If you live in Big Bear Lake, fire safety is especially important during the dry summer months. Two common fire risks at home are how you deal with ash and yard debris. The good news is that a few simple habits can really help.

Ash from a fireplace, wood stove, or fire pit needs to be handled carefully. Even when it looks cool, ash can stay hot enough to start a fire for days after the flames are out.

Let ashes soak for at least 48 hours before throwing them away. Put them in a metal container with a tight lid, add water, and stir to make sure all the ash is wet. Never use a paper bag, cardboard box, or plastic cart if the ash might still be warm. When the ash is cold and wet, you can bag it and put it in your trash cart.

Dry brush, pine needles, and dead plants around your home can fuel a wildfire. Clearing away this debris is one of the best ways to create defensible space around your property.

Big Bear Disposal, Inc. helps you manage green waste easily. Every resident gets a free 96-gallon green waste cart, and you can put out up to 5 bags of green waste at the curb on collection day. If you don’t have a cart, you can set out up to 15 bags each week. Please keep limbs and brush under 4 feet long and 3 inches thick.

If you have a bigger project, you can use a Rent-a-Bin to handle the extra debris. Call (909) 866-3942 to schedule a delivery.

Experts say you should keep the area within 100 feet of your home as free of flammable material as possible. Rake up pine needles, trim branches, remove dead plants, and use your green waste cart regularly during the summer. The more often you clear debris, the safer your home and neighborhood will be.

Do not put ash, yard debris, or anything that could start a fire in a Rent-a-Bin unless you know it’s allowed. Never mix hazardous materials with your green waste or trash. Fire debris may need special handling. If you are not sure, call us and we will help.

Everyone in Big Bear Lake shares the responsibility for fire safety. When you handle ash safely and keep up with yard debris, you help protect your home and the whole mountain community.

For more information about green waste service and disposal, visit bigbeardisposal.com or call (909) 866-3942.