Kennewick Apartment Fire Caused by Flower Pot?!?

There's a logical explanation, but it's one of those "oh wow" conclusions.

Kennewick police say people who smoke shouldn't extinguish cigarettes or other flame related items in flower pots, especially if they've used regular grade potting soil in the pots.

Fire crews responded to 720 North Arthur st in Kennewick early Saturday morning for a second-story fire that damaged a unit enough that the family will have to temporarily leave elsewhere while repairs are being made.

It seems the family was awakened by flames that were over six feet tall, and it started in a flower pot. Authorities say it was near a barbeque, and some combustible materials ended up in the pot.  Fire crews said many potting soil products contain a lot of recycled ground up paper products, and can catch fire it they get hot enough! Who knew? So the guy in the Scott's commercials who says "that's just a bunch of ground up paper, lad" was right.

Kennewick fire crews remind people to make sure and add a lot of actual dirt and real soil to the planters instead of just plain potting soil to lessen the chance it will combust. And keep such pots away from flame sources.