Woodbury Public Safety Department
A grill was the cause of this fire last September in Woodbury.
WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – Several recent fires in Woodbury appear to have started in the garage. While the causes are still under investigation, there are ways to minimize the risk to you and your home.
One note of context first. Woodbury usually has about 60 fires annually that require response from the fire department. The death of a woman during a fire earlier this year was an unusual event for the city.
A fire in the garage is likely to have become quite involved by the time the homeowners are aware it has started. Installing a heat detector that alarms in the house can provide warning before the fire is overwhelming.
Measures can also be taken to to minimize spread of a garage fire into the house.
Making sure that the door between the house and the garage is fire-proof and closes automatically provides protection for your family. In Minnesota, attached garages require a fire-resistant separation from the living space, typically achieved by using 1/2-inch gypsum board (drywall) on the garage side of the shared wall. If there are living spaces above the garage, the ceiling requires a 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board.
While we await word on the cause of recent garage fires, here are the most common causes:
Electrical Malfunctions: One leading cause of garage fires is electrical malfunction, including short circuits, damaged or exposed wires, and overloaded electrical outlets.
Flammable Liquid Storage: Garages often store flammable liquids such as gasoline, paint, and chemicals. If these substances are stored improperly or exposed to heat or flame, they can ignite quickly and cause a garage fire.
Poorly Maintained Appliances: Faulty or misused appliances and tools can pose a significant risk of starting a fire. Even grass packed tightly on surfaces of a lawnmower can ignite.
Smoking: If you or any family members smoke, the discarded cigarette butts can easily ignite flammable materials in the garage, leading to a fire.
Grilling: Try to keep a 10-foot buffer zone between your grill and your house and garage and keep an eye on it at all times. A fire last year in Woodbury was sparked by a grill.
Woodbury Fire Chief Chris Klein shared the following prevention tips with the Roundabout based on his experience with garage fires in the city.
Dispose of cigarette butts properly in a designated metal container or completely extinguish prior to disposal.
Do not use damaged or multiple, in-line extension cords or overload electrical outlets. Dispose of fire pit ashes/charcoal grill coal in a metal container. Never put ashes or coals into your garbage bin.
Make sure fuel containers and other flammable containers are not near ignition sources (heaters, etc.). Even if they are not the cause of the ignition, they add additional fuel for a fire.
Battery chargers should be used per manual instructions, always monitored, and then disconnected when not at home.
Over time the Minnesota Fire Marshal’s Office has seen increased fires associated with devices left in chargers in garages. The last state-wide report tallied only 11 fires associated with lithium ion batteries. Although the batteries can explode and catch fire this generally happens with damaged and inappropriately used batteries.
Caution is advised in exposing lithium batteries to temperature extremes which should lead Minnesotans to keep them out of their garages during many months of the year.
Further fire risk reduction can be accomplished by keeping batteries out of trash cans by bringing them to the Washington County Environmental Center instead.
Keeping a charged fire extinguisher in your garage allows you to put out a small fire before it grows and endangers your family and your home.