BY BILL GUSTIN
There's nothing like a rekindle to ruin a fire officer's day. It's more than the damaged pride or embarrassment. There can be liability implications as well. The officer who makes the final determination that a fire is completely extinguished and allows a family to reoccupy its home bears an enormous responsibility for that family's safety. Redkindles can cause more damage than the initial fire because walls and ceilings may have been opened, exposing combustible structural members.
Additionally, a rekindle in a concealed space, such as an attic, can gain considerable headway before firefighters are called back to the scene. Occupants may have smelled smoke but dismissed it as a residual odor from the previous fire.
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