A warm fire in the fireplace is one of the best things about winter, but without care it can quickly become a hazard. One of the easiest ways fires can start is by not disposing properly of hot ashes. Ashes can stay hot long after a fire has gone out and they can (and do) start fires in household rubbish bins. Hot ashes have also started fires in rubbish trucks and transfer stations.

Always remember – bucket, bag it and bin it.

  • Using a small metal shovel, scoop ash from your fireplace into a metal bucket with a lid. It's really important that you only use a metal bucket or container and not something that could easily catch fire from any residual heat left in the ashes such as plastic or cardboard.
  • Take the bucket outside, away from any buildings, and douse with water.
  • Leave to cool for at least 5 days.

Once the ash has been safely cooled empty the cold ash into a sealed bag (so it doesn't cause a mess when your bin is emptied) and place it into your rubbish bin.

Please do not place ash into your organics bin. This is because some of the chemicals in treated wood and other items that people sometimes burn in their fireplaces can contaminate the compost.

Hot Ash