Chattanooga firefighters managed to control a fire at a home in Brainerd Thursday morning, according to a release from the Chattanooga Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived at a home on the 1000 block of Talley Rd. to find fire spreading from a trash can to an exterior wall of the garage. A neighbor had called 9-1-1 and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within about five minutes. No one was injured.
A resident of the home told firefighters that he had emptied fireplace ashes into the garbage can, thinking they had cooled off.
The estimated dollar loss has been estimated at approximately $3,000 and the cause of the fire was ruled accidental, according to the release.
How to properly dispose of ashes or coals
– If possible, allow ashes and coals to cool in the area where you had the fire for several days. The fireplace or grill is designed to contain their heat safely. – When it’s time to dispose of the ashes, transfer them to a metal container and wet them down. – Keep the container outside your home and away from any combustibles until the refuse is hauled away. – DO NOT use galvanized containers as hot coals on the galvanized metal will release noxious fumes. – DO NOT place other combustibles in the container. – DO NOT use a combustible container