Like boats and barbecues, lawn-mowing season is back. Just remember that under the right conditions, a lawnmower is a fire waiting to happen.
Every summer, the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company responds to incidents involving a lawnmower – sometimes a medical emergency, other times an improperly maintained machine catches fire or a brush fire is sparked while cutting.
The culprit is often tall dry grass packed in the mower deck.
“Standard lawn mowers are not made for mowing fields,” said Haddam Fire Chief Sam Baber. “Dry grass builds up on the mower deck and gets in the muffler where it can catch fire, fall off and set a field on fire.”
If not used properly, Baber added, push mowers are just as dangerous as riding mowers.
Lawn mowers also cause fires by “rock strikes,” when a mower‘s metal blades hit a rock, causing sparks that ignite dried grass. It’s similar to starting a campfire with a flint and steel.
A good rule of thumb for anyone who needs to mow dried grass or brush around their homes is to wet it down first, mow in the morning or when humidity is higher, and avoid mowing altogether on hot, dry, windy days. Ideally, residents should start mowing close to their homes and work outward. Mowing first near the house creates a kind of fire break should a fire occur.
Property owners also should understand that they can be held civilly and criminally liable for fire damage and suppression costs on their own property.
As with any machine powered by a gasoline-driven combustion engine, please respect the flammable nature of the fuel. Never fill the tank on a mower that has been operating and is hot. A hot muffler is capable of igniting the vapors. Once you’re finished fueling your lawnmower, keep the gasoline container a safe distance from the lawnmower and wipe up any spills.
Lastly, prior to performing any service, disconnect the spark plug. This prevents the engine from starting accidentally. Every year people are injured because mowers start unexpectedly when the blade is turned by hand.
Don’ts for Your To-Do List
• Don’t use a lawn mower to cut down dry grass in a field. Hire someone with a field mower to do the big jobs.
• Remove rocks before you mow.
• Make sure you have a properly working spark arrester on all portable gasoline powered equipment, including chainsaws. string trimmers, mowers, motorcycles and ATVs.
• Keep equipment clean and free of flammable materials.
• When welding or grinding in wild land areas, make sure you have 10 feet of clearance, plus a shovel and water-type fire extinguisher at the ready.
• Don’t flick lit cigarettes out of a vehicle’s window.
• Don’t pull off the road into dry grass or brush in any type of vehicle. Hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires.
• Keep a cell phone handy and call 911 immediately in case of a fire.
Do You Have What It Takes? Find more information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved at our website www.haddamfire.com, or connect with us on Facebook.
