the best mowers logo

How To Put Out A Lawn Mower Fire? Our Guide Here!

Written by William
Last Updated on April 12, 2022

How do you Put out a Lawn mower Fire?

Two methods work well to extinguish a lawn mower fire.

The first method is to use a fire extinguisher. If you don’t have one nearby, you can try to smother the fire with a heavy blanket or towel.

If you have an extinguisher handy, spray it on the fire and cover it with a blanket or towel.

The second method is to pour water on the fire. Keep your distance from the fire because it will burn your skin. You can use a garden hose or even a bucket of water.

Lawnmowers are dangerous machines. Regular users should learn how to handle them safely.

A lawnmower fire is easy to put out, but there are ways to prevent fires from happening in the first place.

Cause of Lawnmower Fires

Lawnmowers should be kept away from flammable materials such as wood or dry grass. A lawnmower fire could start easily and spread quickly. People and animals could get hurt by the flames. Homes could burn down.

Fuel Hazards

Adding gasoline to the mower or mixing two different fuel sources can cause the engine to overheat. Never mix non-rated gasoline with rated gasoline. This could cause the engine to burn out.

Loose or Damaged Capacitor

Capacitors discharge electricity when needed. Lawn mowers use capacitors to help start engines. Check your lawnmower’s wires before starting it up. Please don’t touch any wires or components until you’ve checked them first!

How to Put Out a Lawnmower Fire

Shut off the Engine

Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position before shutting off the engine. Pull the spark plug wire off the spark plug. Don’t start the engine again until you’re sure there isn’t any more fire.

Smother the Fire

A fire extinguisher should be used when there is a fire nearby. Wetting down the grass around the fire will help prevent any damage.

Douse the Flames

Douse your lawn mower’s engines with baking soda or dry chemicals. Don’t use a fire extinguisher if you’re near the engine. Stay away from the engine when using a fire extinguisher.

Open the Fuel Line

Gasoline is highly flammable, and if you’re trying to put out a fire with gasoline, you might as well just let it burn. It would help if you never tried to use gasoline to extinguish a fire.

Cut off Oxygen

You should always be prepared for fires by having a fire extinguisher handy. A fire extinguisher is also useful if you need to fire in an engine compartment. Sheet metal cutters may block off airflow to the engine compartment.

Remove Flammable Items

Remove any flammable items around the engine to prevent any possible fuel source for the fire, including gasoline or gasoline container, lawn clippings, and mower blades.

Disconnect the Spark Plug Wire

Wait a few minutes after extinguishing the engine fire before disconnecting the sparkplug wire. This prevents any sparks from causing more damage.

Fire Prevention Tips for Lawn Mowers

Lawnmowers should never catch fire. There are many things we can do to prevent them from doing so. We should always check our lawn mower before using it.

We should also make sure that there is enough oil in the engine. And lastly, we should take care of our lawn mower by keeping it clean and well-oiled.

It would help if you cleaned your mower during the summer. When the sun is at its highest, the temperature inside the engine compartment is also at its highest.

This means that if there are any debris or grass clippings on your mower’s deck, the heat could cause them to ignite.

Mowers should be cleaned after each use. Debris left behind can start a fire. A brush down is recommended before using the mower. Dry debris inside the muffler can cause problems.

Dry debris plus a clogged mower muffler can cause a fire. Sparks from an exhaust system can ignite the clippings. Fueling mid-mow is a big mistake.

It would help if you never refuelled your lawn mower while it was running. This is because the engine, muffler, etc., will get extremely hot. If you do refuel during operation, you risk damaging them. To avoid this, you should wait until the engine has cooled off before adding more fuel.

Mowers should never be operated on grass or other soft surfaces. Blades should always be sharpened before use, and blades should never come into contact with rocks. When using a gas-powered mower, make sure to fill up the tank before starting the engine.

Mowers should be cleaned out regularly. You should check the mower every time you use it to ensure there aren’t any dry clippings or other debris on the bottom of the mower deck. Also, pay attention to the ground underneath the mower. Make sure there are no rocks or other objects under the mower.

Lawnmowers should be kept clean and sharpened regularly. A bent crankshaft indicates the need for maintenance. Blades should be replaced when needed.

Your job is to do everything you can to prevent the world of the sword and the rock from colliding.

Try Mowing Earlier in the Day

Mowing during the hottest time of year is ill-advised. Lawn fires are common when mowing in this weather.

Mowing early in the morning lowers the risk of seeing your mower on fire. It would help if you woke up earlier than usual to avoid burning yourself.

Avoid Mowing in the Windy Weather

Windy conditions mean you should avoid using a gas-powered mower. Dry clippings and grass cuttings blow around easily and could get into the engine. Gas-powered lawn mowers are also less efficient when there’s lots of wind.

Don’t mow during the hottest part of the day. Mowing when the grass is dry helps prevent weeds.

Don’t Let Your Grass Get Too Tall.

Grass should be kept short. Keeping grass short means fewer clippings are flying everywhere. This reduces the chances of getting caught in the middle of a lawn mower fire.

Grass should be kept short to avoid fires. Regular oil changes help prevent fires. A clean air filter helps reduce the risk of fires.

Lawn mowers should have an air filter and oil level indicator. Cleaning the air filter regularly prevents it from becoming clogged with dirt and grime.

Checking the oil level helps ensure that the engine is properly lubricated. This prevents fires and increases engine efficiency.

Older lawnmowers tend to be less efficient than newer ones. Components wear out more slowly in older models.

Clean Your Cooling Fins Every Year

Many people don’t include this step in their end of season maintenance check. Clipping buildup can build up under the covers on top of the engine cooling fins.

I’ve watched videos where they took the covers off, and it looked like something was living there. Almost as if a bird’s nest sat on top of the engine coolers. This is a fire risk and needs to be removed right away.

Last Words

Lawn mowers are dangerous machines that can easily start fires if they get too hot. You should always use the right extinguisher when fighting a lawnmower fire. Water and sand are the best things to put out a lawn mower fire. Never use gasoline or any other flammable liquid.

Wait an hour after refuelling your lawnmower before using it again.

About the author
Written by William
I have always had a passion for gardening and that with a background in selling lawn mowers for the past 10 years, I have become very knowledgeable in all types of gardening tools. The site TheBestMowers.co.uk was created as a hub where I can review and write about all of the tips around gardening.
View All Posts
You may also like
the best mowers logo
TheBestMowers.co.uk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram