State of New Mexico News:
New Mexicans know: There’s nothing quite like coming home to cozy up in front of the fire. Whether wood stove or kiva fireplace, whether for a one-night flame or cooking dinner every evening, fires are winter tradition from Cloudcroft to Cimarron.
This winter has brought record-breaking early season warmth, but cold days are coming, meaning it’s time to crank up the heat at home.
Fire doesn’t end when flames die down:
- You have to dispose of wood ash safely, too. Tossing ash over the porch railing won’t cut it — even “cold” ashes retain enough heat to ignite flammable materials. In December, the Hough Fire outside Portales burned 40 acres of grassland. Its origins? Improperly disposed hot ash.These steps will help you keep your home and neighborhood safe this winter:
- Allow ashes to cool before disposing of them;
- Never empty ashes directly into a trash can;
- Place ashes in a tightly covered metal container and store it at least 10 feet away from your home and other buildings; and
- Pour water on ashes.
Did you know? Some parts of New Mexico, like Taos County, have some of the highest per capita rates of wood stove use in the country. All the more important to burn safely from start to finish.
Learn more here.