So far in the month of July, the Seattle Fire Department has responded to more than 150 warm weather-related fires involving dry grass, bark and shrubs. Seattle residents can help reduce the chance of such outdoor fires by following a few simple steps:
• Remove long grass, weeds or anything that can burn from around your home. This includes limbs that touch your home or hang near the roof.
• Remove dead plants or bushes as soon as possible.
• Clear roof and gutters of needles and leaves.
• Make sure cigarettes have cooled completely before throwing them out. Carelessly discarded cigarettes can easily start a fire in dry conditions.
For a Summer Fire Safety Fact Sheet, visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/Summer%20Safety.pdf

Firefighters douse a brush fire in West Seattle. Photo by West Seattle Blog

There have been more than 150 brush and bark fires in the City of Seattle since July 1. Photo by West Seattle Blog