A couple of recent fires in NH

[peakbagger]

It's been a relative cold spell in NH, sadly a couple of classic mistakes.

Improper ash disposal

Careless Disposal Of Woodstove Ashes Causes Fire In Pembroke

Firefighters remind homeowners to use only metal containers for woodstoves and pellet stove ashes.

patch.com

Improper clearances
(broken link removed)

 

[PaulOinMA]

Five killed 10 years ago in CT from hot embers placed in a paper bag and on a wooden porch.

Fire Likely Caused by Hot Embers

Investigators said it appears fireplace ashes placed in a bag started the deadly Christmas Day fire in Stamford.

www.nbcconnecticut.com

 

[snobuilder]

Before the inspector comes for my stove install ....stop at Lowe's and bag up some 10 year smoke and CO detectors.

 

[snobuilder]

We put ash in a old timey metal trash can with a tight lid, but its just the 2 of us. I could see some un knowing family member seeing a garbage can and using it to throw the McDonalds bag in to....of course leaving the lid loose.

 

[gthomas785]

It's important for people to be educated about stuff like this. Years ago we hired a cleaning lady, and one of the first things she did was to scoop all the ashes out of the fireplace straight into the trash and put the trash out in the (rather combustible) barn. Thankfully the fire had been out for a few days. When I realized what had happened, I called her and explained in the calmest voice I could that she had been this close to burning our house down. She had no idea. She apologized profusely and never touched the fireplace or stove after that.