Written by For Immediate Release Contact: Deputy Chief Mark Peterson
News Release # 1 Phone Number: 206-534-5070
Date: 01/16/2008 Time: 1:48 PM
Structure Fires are a Result of Improperly Discarded Ashes
Renton firefighters responded to two separate structure fires within 24 hours of each other. Each was the result of improperly discarded fireplace ashes.
The first fire, on January 11, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. in the 2800 block of NE 8th Street, displaced two people and resulted in $125,000 in damages. The fire destroyed one unit of a duplex. The cause was determined to be fireplace ashes in a paper bag left in the living room. Renton firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, limiting heat and smoke damage to the one unit.
The second fire in an apartment in the 2600 block of NE 4th Street was reported January 12, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. The occupant of an apartment had cleaned her fireplace and placed the ashes in a plastic bucket on an outside deck. The fire burned the bucket, siding, storage door, and extended into the soffit and roof area. The fire did approximately $10,000 damage. The occupant was not displaced by the fire.
There were no reported injuries in either fire. These two fires are a good reminder to all that ashes may still be smoldering even if you think they are out. When cleaning out your fireplace ashes place them in a metal container and remove them from the structure. Wet them down prior to disposal. Never place a container of ashes on a combustible surface.
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