Serious Fire Hazard in Commom Garden Item

Common products and items used around the outside of your home to enhance the look could be a serious fire hazard.
Though this was a wet cold summer in the Sudbury area both Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario suffered the same lack of sunny days, but, despite the weather it was a summer of home renovations here. One of the projects required the front deck to be removed and we did so, in many, many pieces. It was a large deck with trellis around the bottom to block the three foot opening underneath from animals , leaves and no doubt the urge to store things there. The wood that was not reusable, most of it, was placed on a growing pile of wood scrap. I decided it was time to get rid of the pile. I started a bonfire and being careful no butterflies, moths, mice or snakes were within the armfuls of wood I was taking to the fire I did a great job of reducing the pile. When I took the old trellising and threw it on top of the pyre I was very surprised when flames leapt up as though I had just poured gasoline on it. Trellis, it seems, is extremely flammable. The deck was hardwood and if a fire had started we would have time to grab the fire extinguisher and deal with it but if the fire got to the trellis there would have been no chance at all.
Trellis is great in the garden for climbing plants in an arbor, fan or fence, whether for transplants or starting seeds, but caution should be used when placed near your home, shed or garage. In both Sudbury and Southern Ontario gardens I have often seen trellis very attractively attached to a wall with a vigorous climbing flower covering the whole area and transforming an otherwise bland wall into a spectacular rampage of colour.
You can still have supports for these lovely plants but consider using plastic or metal. Metal strapping or thin tubing may easily be made into a fan shape, ladder or rectangular grid for your climbers. The same effect but so much safer than thin, dry, trellising. When using any kind of tubing outside be sure to plug the holes so they don’t become the favourite hiding and nesting caves of wasps and other unwanted pests.
Whether a northern or southern garden there are many wonderful possibilities to enhance your home, be aware of the hazards and eliminate all that you can.