MARQUETTE, MI-- State Police are reminding the public to use great care when disposing of wood ashes.
Troopers say people in the area are increasingly using alternative forms of heat—like wood stoves, fireplaces and biomass stoves. They say even after several days piles of ashes can retain enough heat to re-ignite and start a fire, so they should only be kept in a metal container with an elevated bottom and a tight-fitting lid.
Other steps people need to take to stay safe include wetting the ashes down before storage, placing the metal container away from anything flammable, and re-inspecting the ashes after a week to make sure they’re completely out before disposing of them.
