As we settle into Fire Prevention Week, a critical reminder comes from the Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability. Their social media outreach is turning up the heat on awareness, not from the flames but in spreading knowledge of potential hazards hiding in our everyday disposal practices. "Materials improperly placed into the trash and recycling can be significant fire hazards," they warned on their Facebook page, according to the Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability.
It seems residents have been quick to forget that certain items have no place in the recycling or trash carts—something the Cincinnati Office hopes to change. According to their post, the most common culprits are rechargeable batteries, flammable liquids, household chemicals, and compressed gas cylinders. These are not just items to mindlessly toss; they are calls for caution waiting to quickly become hazards if mishandled. For those unsure of the right way to dispose of such items, the Office has a solution. "FIND PROPER DISPOSAL OPTIONS on the County's searchable list," they advise, according to the Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability, directing residents to a resource that aims to safely handle the dangerous detritus of domestic life.
And the dangers are not just chemical, but physical too. Coals and ashes, those remnants of warm hearths and summer barbeques, can still hold enough heat to spark a new flame days after the fire has died. The Office's post carries a simple yet effective means to prevent such an inadvertent blaze. "When it’s time to dispose of the ashes, transfer them to a metal container and wet them down before placing in trash," they counsel. A basic bucket of water could be all that stands between safety and disaster, a dampening ritual for the sleepy, yet still smoldering ashes.
