Last week we warned about mulch fires after a weekend spent responding to several of those around town.

This week, two weekend incidents are providing reminders about some less common types of fires that we encounter a few times every year. We'll also touch on a few other things to be wary of as you spruce things up for warm weather.

Grills

Saturday evening we were called to a home on Cobblefield Court, where a gas grill caught fire and was melting the home's exterior. Fortunately the homeowner was able to get things put out with a garden hose by the time we arrived.

We have a few grill fires every year, so here are a few things you can do to prevent having one at your home:

• Check gas grills for leaks regularly; don't forget to inspect hoses for cracking or other deterioration.
• Operate the grill a safe distance from your house. 10 feet is a good number. Even if your grill is operating normally, it can still produce enough heat to warp your siding.
• Don't operate your grill inside your house, garage or attached porch. Even if you don't catch the house on fire, fumes like carbon monoxide can get into your home.
• It is an extremely bad idea to use gasoline to start your charcoal grill. Even if you don't blow yourself up, burgers seasoned with gasoline fumes aren't likely to impress your guests.
• Don't discard charcoal ashes in your trash if you can avoid it. If you can't avoid it, mix them with water first to get rid of any residual heat.
• If you intend to cook the buildup off of your grills grates, set a timer or some other reliable reminder for yourself to go back out and turn it off. Over the past several years, we've met several people who got their reminder when nearby combustible items, like their deck, caught fire.

Oil-Based Stains and Spontaneous Combustion

Sunday we responded to a house fire on Picket Fence Place. Fortunately, the fire was contained largely to an exterior wall of the home. The cause was one we see once or twice a year: spontaneous combustion of materials used to apply wood stain. While certain oil-based products can provide you with a great finish and years of service, there can be risks.

• Be sure to pay particular attention to the warning labels on oil-based stains, paints and solvents.
  • Look for directions on ventilation and distance from ignition sources
  • Look for instructions how to safely discard leftover materials.
• If you're not confident in your ability to safely handle oil-based products, there are almost always water-based or other alternatives available.

It's Not Dirt in There

If you decorate your home with store-bought potted plants and find out that you're the Grim Reaper of flowers, be sure to dispose of the deceased plants immediately. Many of the planters sold today don't contain common dirt, but a mixture of organic materials like peat moss, fertilizers, vermiculite and perlite. Vermiculite and perlite don't burn, but the other contents can support smoldering combustion when they get dry.

In some cases, the decaying plant material can get enough air flow and is insulated enough that generated heat cannot escape. Eventually there can be enough heat buildup to start a smoldering fire inside the planter.

In other cases, a discarded cigarette can provide the ignition source.

Once it begins, the smoldering process can continue for as long as 4 hours and produce little or no smoke. When the smoldering reaches the bottom or sides of a plastic container, it can erupt into a flaming fire and spread to nearby combustibles. Or, if the plant is hanging, the plastic bottom may just drop out.

In 2008 we had at least two fire incidents involving dead plants in plastic containers. One was discovered in a family's basement in time to avoid a larger fire. The other spread to a wooden deck and the attached building before it was discovered.

If you have these types of planters around your house, preventing a fire is simple:

• Keep them alive. Live plants in moist soil don't tend to catch fire.
• If your begonias go bye-bye, immediately send them to their final resting place instead of letting them dry out on your deck or in your garage.