Investigators: Garage fire sparked by hot ashes in trash

A garage fire sparked by discarded ashes from a fire pit caused an estimated $10,000 in damages Sunday in Columbus.

Columbus firefighters report that they were called to the 1000 block of Countryside Lane at about 3:56 p.m. Sunday afternoon on a reported structure fire. When they arrived they found heavy flames on the exterior of an attached garage. Firefighters used a hose to knock down the flames and then searched for hidden fires including in the attic space. After removing siding, insulation and drywall in the garage they found several small pockets of fire still smoldering.

The homeowners said that they had dumped what they believed were cold ashes into a plastic trash toter, which eventually ignited and the fire spread to the garage’s wooden siding. Investigators ruled that the fire was accidental.

The fire department urges you to dispose of ashes into a non combustible container that you keep stored away from any flammable materials. It can take 12 to 24 hours for ashes and hot coals to completely cool. You should always soak coals in water before you get rid of them.

Photos courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.