Hello fellow winter-sowers:

I watched with interest an item on last night's TV news concerning that fact that having potting soil in your basement could be a fire hazard. According to the news item, a couple was alerted to a fire in their basement by their smoke alarm and the fire department thinks the fire was started when the potting soil spontaneously ignited!! One firefighter likened it to the heat that can build up in our compostors if the mix of organic material and moisture are favourable. I know most of us have potting soil in our basements as we await WS season, so maybe it's something to think about. Below is the online reference to the item:

POTTING SOIL

We have an unusual warning from a couple in PEI about the potential fire hazard posed by potting soil. That's right, potting soil. Investigators are hoping they can determine why the soil caught fire on its own in the couple's basement. At the same time, they're warning homeowners to be careful.

If you have any questions or concerns about your potting soil you should contact your local fire department.