Residents Are Starting Accidental Fires by Putting Out Cigarettes in Planters: Oak Park Fire Officials

Following a string of incidents in which fires have been started by people putting out their cigarettes in planters, the Oak Park Fire Department is warning residents to keep their smokes to themselves.

According to a release from the Village of Oak Park, officials said people have been extinguishing their cigarettes on the wooden back porches of multifamily buildings, many times in plants or pots on the decks.

As a result of this, residents who think they put their cigarettes out could actually start fires without knowing.

"Potting mixes typically contain highly flammable materials like peat moss, dried bark and pellets that will burn when introduced to a heat source like a smoldering cigarette butt," the release explains. "Smokers may think a butt is out only to have a fire start several hours later."

The department staff is urging residents to take a look at fire safety guidelines on its website in light of recent events.

--

Image via Shutterstock