Fall Leaf Burning

10/12/2020 (Permalink)

Home fire safety applies to the yard as well.

As we get further into the Fall, leaves start changing colors and falling from the trees. For many home owners this beautiful season can be overshadowed the constant need to rake their yard. It becomes a frequent task to upkeep your yard and dispose of the leaves. Some people prefer to bag the leaves and have them taken away while others burn their leaves. At SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest, we would like to give some simple tips to those who use the burning leaves method.

• Check to make sure it is legal in your community. Some townships have set dates for when burning leaves is acceptable or require permits.
• Create the burning pile on dirt or gravel. Avoid doing it on grass or fields. 
• Consult weather forecasts on a day with high winds.
• Do not use gasoline or fire starters to start it.
• Keep the pile small and slowly add leaves as the previous ones burn to the bottom of the pile.
• Keep water source near in case of emergency and to dowse embers when finished.

Know that there are safer and less harmful ways that open burning leaves such as closed metal burn drums or putting the leaves is biodegradable bags and giving them to the city. We want to keep people safe no matter what their preferred method is.