If you have a garden or potted plants, you likely store a bag of potting soil at home. While quality soil helps keep plants healthy, it also contains a combination of organic and inorganic materials that can lead to fire if used improperly. Potting soil fires start for a variety of reasons.

• Smokers use the soil to put out their cigarettes.
  
  
• The soil isn’t watered regularly and is left to dry out. Direct sunlight on dry potting soil can cause it to ignite and spread to combustible items around it.
  
  
• Soil is stored next to other heat sources that could catch fire.

You can prevent potting soil fires by watering your plants regularly, storing unused soil away from heat sources and providing a safe place for smokers to put out their cigarettes.