Action sheet — Before the fire
Angle grinders, brush cutters, welding: working without starting a fire
A spark from a grinder can travel several metres and land at a temperature of 1,000 °C. The time slot, the clear working area, a fire extinguisher within reach and the final check-up: four habits that distinguish the DIY enthusiast from the unwitting arsonist.
Key points
- Mornings only (before 10–11 am), when the weather is calm — never during an orange or red alert (as per official notices).
- A 5-metre radius free of any dry vegetation around the workstation.
- A fire extinguisher, a full spray bottle or a pressurised hose within 10 metres.
- We stay in the area for an hour after it’s finished: the embers smoulder before bursting into flames.
Equipment: 5-litre water/additive fire extinguisher or spray bottle · spark-proof tarpaulin (optional) · nylon line (brush cutter)
Why it’s important
Grinding, stone cutting and welding: every time the tool comes into contact with the workpiece, it projects particles of molten metal that remain incandescent for several seconds — long enough to set alight dry grass, bedding or wood shavings 5 metres away from the workstation. The statistics on causes confirm this: the projects for private individuals and professionals are among the very first sources of summer getaways, often just a few metres from the author’s home. The professional version of this form is known as the ‘permis de feu’ — see theBusiness section.
How to do it, step by step
Choose a time slot
Early in the morning (high humidity, light wind), never during the hottest part of the day. Check the vigilance : orange/red = postponement, and often a ban imposed by official order.
Prepare the area
Within a 5-metre radius: short grass, leaves and wood shavings cleared away; containers and solvents kept at a distance. Near a patch of vegetation: a screen (sheet metal, splash-proof tarpaulin) between the workstation and the vegetation.
Set the extinguisher
A water spray fire extinguisher with additive, or a full garden sprayer, or a hose unrolled and UNDER PRESSURE. Within 10 metres, clearly visible. A fire that’s brought under control in 30 seconds is nothing out of the ordinary.
Work smart
Brush cutter: use the nylon line near stones; reserve the blade for clear areas. Sharpening: point the blade towards the stony area. Take regular breaks to check the surrounding area.
Check afterwards
The spark trapped in the litter smoulders for 10, 30 or 60 minutes before the first smoke appears. Stay where you are or check back every 15 minutes for 1 hour, wetting any areas affected by the fallout.
The mistakes that ruin everything
- ‘Just two minutes with the angle grinder’ at 3 pm in a mistral — that’s the typical scenario for major fires caused by building work.
- The fire extinguisher in the garage, 80 metres from the workstation.
- Head off for lunch as soon as the job’s done: the next half hour is the most dangerous.
- Grinding on the workbench… set up against the hedge.
The tip that makes all the difference
The 5-litre pump sprayer makes a brilliant fire extinguisher: it produces a fine mist, can be refilled with tap water, and is already being used in the garden. One in the workshop, one on the trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
Check the fire alert status for your department, monitor current fires and report a fire via the Feux de Forêt mobile app.