‘Spontaneous combustion of soil’ in flower pot scorches Washington home, officials say
.jpeg "A home was scorched after a flower pot caught fire on the deck of a Washington home, officials said. Photo from Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue")
A home was scorched after a flower pot caught fire on the deck of a Washington home, officials said.
The fire started after the “spontaneous combustion of soil in a flower pot” at the Lake Stevens home on Wednesday, Aug. 31, the Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue said on Facebook.
“When Engine 82 arrived, the entire back side of the house was on fire and flames were extending into the attic,” the post said.
Firefighters began attacking the flames on the back of the house, while additional firefighters ran a hose through the home and cut holes in the roof to “expel heat and smoke from the attic,” the fire department said. After venting the roof, the fire department was able to “quickly put out the fire.”
The fire marshal’s office determined the soil started the fire, the post said.
The organic material in soil can burn. But, experts say, the temperature of the material would need to reach 190 degrees Celsius (374 degrees Fahrenheit) or more.
In addition to soil, mulch can also be combustible, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Organic mulch is comprised of plant materials, like pine needles and pine bark nuggets, while inorganic mulch consists of “rock, gravel and brick chips.” Inorganic mulches “tend not to burn and are safe to use in any setting,” according to the association.
“It is recommended that dry combustible materials are not kept near houses or decks,” according to the Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue. “Build a defensible zone around your house by keeping the grass around your house green and using fire-resistant landscaping and plants.”
Lake Stevens is about 60 miles south of Bellingham.
