Uncommon ways a wildfire may spark

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – Did you know simply leaving a hot water bottle on the ground may be the start of losing thousands of acres of forest? What about parking your car on a dry patch of grass?

There are many different ways that a wildfire can spark without people even realizing it. Colton Morgan is a Firefighter EMT for Princeton Fire Department. He gave insight on the more uncommon catalysts for fires.

“Your chains on trailers, make sure they’re up and off the roadway due to the sparks that are going to drop [onto] patches of grass and potentially cause a wildfire,” said Morgan.

The dragging of the chains can cause a spark and catch nearby lawn clippings on fire. Another way a fire can catch is by leaving a hot water bottle unattended on dry grass. These bottles and other hot objects can also scald flesh at certain temperatures.

Car exhausts can also be a safety hazard – especially during drought season.

Morgan advises that you never leave a campfire unattended either because it only takes seconds for a fire to spread.

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