The cottages of Lac Sam are vulnerable to fire. We are remote, our treed paradise provides fuel for fires, and much of our soil is peat, a perfect fire starter. Those who have been here long enough remember the terrifying experiences of past fires – all caused by human activity.
Forest fires can travel tree-top to tree-top, along the ground, and underground. We have witnessed at least one fire re-emerge almost a year later after traveling underground. Add climate change and varying extreme weather conditions and forest fires are a real possibility. What can we do?
11 Things You Can Do to Prevent Fire
Here are 10 things we can do to reduce our risk of fire at the cottage, extracted from a Cottage Life article and from wisdom from the elders of the lake:
- Check your electrical appliances and equipment. Those old appliances that we think are ‘good enough” for the cottage may not be. Old frayed wiring, loose, faulty connections can cause an electrical fire. They may not meet the current electrical safety code and are a risk to you and for fire.
- Check your lighting fixtures too. The wiring as well as bulb and shade. Ensure the bulb meets the specs of the lamp and that enough ventilation is available between shade and bulb. The higher the wattage, the more ventilation needed.
- Check your electrical wiring and power panel. Same thing here. Check for worn, frayed wiring, and loose connections on your panel. Check for animal or storm damage to your wiring too. If your lights dim when you turn on an appliance, your power panel is overloaded. The risk of an electrical surge and thus fire can result. Ensure your panel can support your electrical load and that the wiring is up to code. Use surge protection power bars and unplug your devices during a storm or when you are away from your cottage fore extended periods.
- Maintain your fireplace, wood stove and chimney. Creosote can build up in the chimney from incomplete combustion and is highly combustible. The National Fire Code of Canada requires an annual inspection of your chimney. A 3mm build up of creosote or cobwebs and nests in your chimney are cause for concern. A spark arrestor is a good idea (stainless steel mesh attached to chimney guard). Burn only seasoned wood and don’t fill the firebox with trash and paper.
- Maintain your barbecue. Make sure the lid is fully open before you start the BBQ. If it doesn’t start right away, turn off the gas, wait for it to dissipate and then try again. Regularly check for leaks in the valves or hose; look for bubbles when you turn on the gas and spiders blocking the tubes that feed the gas to the burners. Keep the grill clean and wait for charcoal to cool completely before discarding. If the BBQ is on a wood deck, feel the wood to make sure it doesn’t become to hot. Turn off the gas when not in use.
- Keep open-air fires controlled and contained. Yep, those cute little outdoor fireplaces that have a base and walls, and a screen for sparks keep the fire off the peat ground, small and enclosed. Place the fire pit on stone, gravel or cement and not directly on the ground or wood deck. Locate it at least 3m from logs, trees and other combustibles. Always have a shovel and bucket of water, or hose or fire extinguisher near by. Never leave it un-attended and douse the fire completely before leaving it. Discard coals only when completely cold. Honour the forest fire rating – if high or extreme – no fires!
- Store propane tanks and gasoline safely. Outside, away from combustibles and avoid direct sun or heat. Check containers for leaks. Gas fumes are heavier than air, will sink to the lowest point and ignite easily, so don’t have an open gas container near a depression.
- Install a lightning rod system. The highest risk for forest fires caused by lightning is in July and August – prime cottage season. A cottage lightning rod system consists of a series of copper or aluminum air terminals (a.k.a. rods), copper or aluminum conductor cable, and a grounding system. With a good system, anything metal on the roof, from vents to eaves-troughs and downspouts, is connected.
- Avoid fireworks. They are beautiful but their sparks can land anywhere. (The animals don’t like them too.) Best to avoid them all together. That includes floating candles or flying lanterns.
- Store inflammable chemicals safely. Wood stains, fuels, cleaners and the like can act as fire starters. Keep them away from heat sources and in proper containers. Keep dirty rags in tin cans and dispose of them safely. Properly dispose of old, hazardous items.
- Clean the debris around your cottage. Of course, we want to hold onto some extra lumber for the next project but if the pile is getting old and big, it might be time to purge this combustible. Properly dispose of the brush you may be piling up too. No need to fuel the fire!
- Consider switching to battery-powered candles. Candles had a wonderful ambiance and can be a light source when the power goes out, but sometimes we forget to blow them out! It’s a lot easier and safer to use those remote-controlled battery candles. With a press of a button – presto all the candles are on… or off!
Reference:
KV
Fire! How to Prevent it