New Year’s rockets don’t always reach the sky, but sometimes the neighbor’s balcony. That’s why it bursts into flames. This is how you protect yourself – with a few simple steps on the days before.
Fireworks that miss their target can cause a fire on the balcony. Therefore, this should be cleaned up on New Year’s Eve. More precisely: All combustible objects must go. Silvia Oestreicher, spokeswoman for the German Fire Brigade Association, advises this.
Parasols, drying racks with clothes to dry and empty boxes are easily ignited. This also applies to the withered and dried out remains of the summer planting that have not yet been cleared away. Also: for the dry Christmas tree and for wrapping Christmas presents that are temporarily stored on the balcony. This should all be cleared away before the days when fireworks may be fired.
Balcony furniture can also catch fire – and that’s a problem. Because large sofa corners, tables and cupboards can often not be put away so easily and quickly. But you shouldn’t throw a plastic film over it as supposed protection. Plastic burns even faster than solid wood, according to Oestreicher.
It is also best to close all windows, terrace and balcony doors as well as skylights so that no rockets can get lost in the house. This not only serves to protect against fire, but also prevents people celebrating from being injured.
And it makes sense to have a filled bucket of water or a full watering can to hand in case of an emergency. “If it’s cold, it’s best to leave it indoors in the apartment, otherwise the water in the bucket will freeze,” adds Oestreicher.
If you are not there: As a precaution, pour water over the plants before leaving home. This also helps against smoldering fires in the potting soil caused by stray rockets. The substrates can consist largely or even entirely of peat – and peat is a fuel. And a treacherous one at that.
If it ignites, it can smolder in the flowerpot unnoticed for hours and only gradually develop into a flaming fire. “This cause of fire is rare, but it doesn’t hurt to have one, two or three liters of water on New Year’s Eve,” says Oestreicher.