The fire on a porch in Somerville forced ten people to evacuate their home in the early hours of May 25, 2023. It was a few days before Memorial Day. Since summer is here, it is time to remind everyone that June is Porch Fire Safety Month and porch fires ruin houses (and sometimes hurt people).

I take this moment to remind you that state law does not allow grills on the porch, unless you can be 10 feet from the building’s wall. Check your local town or city website for local ordinances that might be even more strict. Chelsea had the best info page.

 [In 2019] there were approximately 100 grill fires in Massachusetts, almost half extended to a dwelling. 70% of these fires occurred between May and September. • Nearly 150 residential fires were started outside by cigarettes and extended to a building. June is Porch Fire Safety Month in Chelsea, Massachusetts How Important is Porch Fire Safety? •

These are the things that a lot of people don’t know:

  • Don’t dump your charcoal too soon. Charcoal can take up to 48 hours to fully cool down.
  • Propane cans should be stored outside.

Summertime is when Massachusetts heads outdoors. Sometimes, this leads to tragedy. A fire in Arlington reminded me that smoking on the porch is not a foolproof way to keep your house safe from fire.

Smoking can set a house on fire

Smoking is a major cause of fire in residences in Massachusetts. It’s not so much the act of smoking; it is the way that cigarette butts and pipe embers are disposed of. Embers can linger and burst into flame later. If the ember is on the porch, residents often are no longer there to see the fire start. There are no smoke detectors outside to warn them.

The best way to dispose of hot embers is to have a metal can with sand in it for disposal. Ashtrays are not always enough.

Don’t use the soil in potted plants. It’s the wrong place to dump the embers.

    • It’s bad for the plant.
    • There may be combustible chemicals in the soil.

Garbage cans may have combustible things in them.

Flicking a butt into a flowerbed can lead to leaves or mulch catching fire in addition to the chemicals that might catch fire.

 

Can a condo association ban smoking?

Yes. A condo association is free to make rules about behavior like no smoking, no grilling, no locking bicycles on the fence, whether pets are allowed, or even requiring that all curtains have to be white on the outward-facing side.

If you are buying into a condo association, you need to check on typical rules that might affect your choice about living there.

Condo associations can ban smoking on the property. There is a variety of opinions about whether this is good or bad for property values. Some say that no smoking buildings are safer and more pleasant. Others say that the restriction may turn off future buyers. Also, smoking bans, like quiet hours, are hard to enforce because violations are hard to prove.

Can a landlord ban smoking?

Yes, a landlord can ban smoking on the property. A lease can have a no smoking clause.

What about marijuana?

Yes, a landlord can ban smoking marijuana on the property. There is some controversy about whether someone with a medical use card should be allowed to smoke. The most recent article for landlords that I could find on marijuana use by tenants (2022) states that smoking bans include smoking anything – tobacco or marijuana.

Enjoy the summer safely. Grilling is fun, keep the grill away from the house. Smoking is bad for your health.