Press release:

South King Fire & Rescue, which serves Des Moines and Federal Way, wants to ask residents to do their part this summer in keeping our communities free from fire, after fire responses soared over the weekend.

Most of the fires have been small in nature, originating in beauty bark, grass or other natural vegetation and can be easily prevented with a little caution. Dry conditions over the weekend, combined with human carelessness caused nearly 20 small fires throughout the district since Friday. Damages have been minimal and in most cases, firefighters have been able to easily extinguish them with a bucket or two of water.

Generally, landscape bark fires are started by discarded cigarettes. Cigarettes continue to smolder, sometimes for hours, after being thrown away. If they are left in dry bark, they can easily start a smoldering fire.

Please use extra caution this summer and keep the following in mind:

Call 9-1-1 immediately If the fire won't go out, there are flames, it has spread to a fence or building, or if you don't feel safe.

Put burned cigarettes in an ashtray where they can cool down without starting a fire. If there is not one where you normally smoke, see if you can get one placed there.

If a fire does start, first try pouring water on the bark. Also, try using a shovel to move the smoldering bark away so it can cool down.

Dry chemical extinguishers will rarely extinguish a smoldering bark fire. Water is the best method. It could take a couple of gallons from a garden hose, but it may only take a glassful.

You may also extinguish a small grass fire with a garden hose. If you don't feel comfortable fighting the fire, the fire keeps growing, or spreads to a fence, building or bush, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Don't forget, if a building is on fire, leave the building and call 9-1-1 from a neighbor's house. Do not attempt to fight the fire. Smoke from a house fire can be deadly - don't risk it.