Why ash fires catch people off guard

Heat retention
A bed of ash insulates coals, which can stay hot for several days
Typical containers that fail
Paper bags, cardboard boxes, plastic trash cans and shop vacuums
Common locations
Garages, decks, porches, beside a woodpile or against the house
Local factor
Low humidity and strong winter winds help a small ember grow fast

How these fires usually unfold

The pattern is familiar to fire departments: someone cleans out the stove in the morning, puts the ash in whatever is handy, and sets it in the garage or on the deck to deal with later. Hours or a day later, a coal buried in the ash works its way to the container wall. Plastic melts, cardboard chars, and the fire finds whatever is nearby, such as a recycling bin, a stack of firewood or a gas can.

Pellet stoves produce less ash, but their ash pans and the ash vacuumed from the burn pot can still hold heat. Using a regular shop vacuum on warm pellet ash is a known way to start a fire inside the vacuum.

Garage fires from ash tend to send heavy smoke into the house through the door to the kitchen or mudroom and through any attic space shared with living areas. Deck fires can climb siding and reach soffit vents. Either way, the cleanup often extends well beyond the spot where the container sat.

After the fire department leaves

  1. Ventilate and look, don't scrub

    Open doors if outdoor air is clear. Photograph the origin area and every room that smells of smoke before moving anything.

  2. Check the shared wall and attic

    Look for soot at the door between the garage and the house, on outlet covers on that wall and around the attic hatch.

  3. Separate burned items from smoke-exposed ones

    Charred items near the origin are usually discarded. Items elsewhere in the garage may clean up; leave them until the insurer has seen them.

  4. Handle stored fuels carefully

    Gas cans, propane cylinders and paint near the fire should be checked for damage and moved outside, away from the house.

  5. Schedule an electrical check

    Garage circuits, the panel if it's in the garage and the opener should be checked by an electrician before use.

Safer ash handling going forward

  • Use a metal ash can with a tight metal lid, and set it on a noncombustible surface
  • Keep the can outdoors, at least several feet from the house, deck, fence and woodpile
  • Wet the ash down before final disposal and wait several days
  • Never use a household or shop vacuum on ash unless it is designed for ash
  • Keep a working smoke alarm in the garage area and a carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping rooms

General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.