Dive summary:

• A fire that broke out at the Rockland solid waste facility in Rockland, Maine this weekend has been linked to improper disposal of stove ash.
• There is a designated place for ash but this time the ash was dumped on a demolition pile of demo wood, insulation, discarded carpeting, couches and mattresses.
• The fire is believed to have started after a wind caught an ember, spreading the fire quickly to nearby flammable material.

From the article:

Like all municipal waste facilities, the Rockland Solid Waste Facility on Limerock Street has a receptacle specifically for stove ashes that is also placed away from combustibles. Stove, fireplace and grill ashes can smolder for days, weeks and even months, especially when placed in a box or airtight container by someone who thinks containing them will put them out.

Instead, confined ashes are an accident waiting to happen, as all it takes is exposure to air, especially a wind gust, the fan them into flames.

Miceli said people can't be too careful when it comes to proper disposal of fire ash, especially when it's fresh and hasn't been wet down. ...