Potting soil fire is second in three months

An early morning walker saved the day when she spotted a fire at a house on Riverside Drive and put it out with a garden hose.

Homeowner Renee Ren said she was awakened by a banging on the door by Janet Reindl about 6 a.m. on Aug. 22. She said Reindl didn't think anyone was home and had alerted neighbors to call 911 and then grabbed a garden hose to put out the deck fire.

The fire, which started in a potted plant, totaled the deck, Ren said. The fire also scorched some siding, but fortunately it was extinguished before it could start climbing up the side of the home. She has insurance and expects to see an adjuster soon.

Ren said she had some guests over the evening before the fire and one of them probably put a cigarette out in a potted plant on the deck. Ren said she's not a smoker and doesn't have any ashtrays in the house, but she knows better next time she has guests.

Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said dispatch received the call at 5:58 a.m. Eleven firefighters were at the scene 10 minutes later with an engine, tender, heavy rescue vehicle and command vehicle.

"The fire was mostly out when we got there," he said. "She was extremely lucky. She said she saw flames coming through the decking when she came to the door."

This is the second time in three months that a home in the Columbia Falls area nearly burned down because of a cigarette placed in potting soil. Columbia Falls firefighters successfully prevented a home on Witty Lane from being a total loss on May 26 after a deck fire originating in a potted plant climbed up the rear wall of the house.

"Potting soil starts a lot of fires," Hagen said, citing the numerous incidents reported online. "Even if it's a little bit damp, it can build up heat and start a fire."

Potting soil is not dirt. It's made of flammable materials like peat moss, wood fibers, Perlite, Styrofoam beads and fertilizer, which can act like an oxidizer and spur a fire on. People are advised to provide ashtrays to guests when they step outside for a smoke.