Barbecue Ashes Ignite Destructive Fire
A resident who unwittingly dumped hot ashes into a plastic garbage can started a fire Tuesday that destroyed a condominium garage, a carport and two cars, fire officials said.
Residents of a condominium in the 8100 block of Gordon Green had been smoking meat in a barbecue overnight, said Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman Maria Sabol. The ashes appeared to be cool in the morning, so one of the residents dumped them into a plastic garbage can inside the closed garage, causing the blaze that raged out of control by 10 a.m., Sabol said.
The family car was in the garage at the time, she said.
“People need to remember that ashes will retain heat for about 48 hours,” Sabol said. “You need to make sure they are out completely. Now that it’s barbecue season, it’s something to be aware of.”
The fire spread to a neighboring carport, destroying it and a car, and causing a total of about $140,000 damage, Sabol said.
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