Recently, the Arvada Fire Department has seen several fires that have started due to accidental circumstances. Normally, an accidental fire involves candles, cooking, electrical outlets or even spontaneous combustion. But these fires have been caused by potted plants. Potted plants? Yes, potted plants. It seems that people have been using their potted plants as an ashtray. While this seems harmless enough, potting soil is NOT the same as dirt.

Potted plant fires have been linked to almost $1 million worth of property damage and the loss of one life in Arvada and the Colorado Springs Fire Department has had over $3 million worth of property damage in one year due to potted plant fires.

Many potting soils in stores today are a mixture of several different products. These products may be any of the following: shredded wood, bark, and peat moss. Styrofoam pellets, perlite and vermiculite are often added to the mixture for aeration. In addition, the potting soil may include different types of fertilizers. Some fertilizers are oxidizers, which will make a fire that does start, grow at an even faster rate. Put a dry potting soil mixture together with a heat source and you have a recipe for disaster.

Because of this unknown, but preventable, hazard, the Arvada Fire Department has launched a campaign called "Keep Your Butt Out of the Pot." We have asked local retailers to post our sign near their potting soil displays and have started a media campaign on KATV channel 8 and our website, www.arvadafire.com.

• Keep your potted plant moist
• Keep an ashtray near where people congregate to smoke
• Throw dead plants out in the trash and spread the potting soil in your yard or garden.
• Keep extra bags of potting soil away from combustible materials such as a wood deck.