Are Your Eyes Playing Tricks On You, Or Is That Really Smoke?

8/10/2020 (Permalink)

Have you ever seen what you thought was steam rising from the garden beds around a house?  Did you rub your eyes, shake your head, and take a double look?  It may not have been steam or your eyes playing tricks on you but smoldering mulch.  At SERVPRO of Fair Oaks-Centreville-Chantilly, a recent client experienced just this.  Unfortunately, the mulch did ignite, burning through the bay window and damaging the kitchen.  Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the damage was not too extensive.  It’s often debated whether mulch can spontaneously ignite or if it has to have a catalyst such as a spark, hot ember or discarded cigarette to catch fire.  Regardless of which side of the debate you favor, summertime warrants taking extra care with respect to BBQ’s, fireworks, fire pits, citronella candles, and all the other activities that entail fire.  Should a flame, spark, hot match, or 4^th of July sparkler land in a garden bed of mulch, you may be soon looking at a serious fire.  Be safe, take precautions, and protect your family and property from unnecessary fire damage. 

Should the unfortunate occur, and your home sustains fire and smoke damage, call SERVPRO of Fair Oaks-Centreville-Chantilly on (703) 830-5800.  We are fire restoration experts and are here to help.