To mark Fire Prevention Month and Fire Prevention Week, Rockland County officials are urging residents to practice outdoor fire safety following several incidents this year in which fires that started outside homes then spread to the structures themselves.

According to fire officials, 14 fires in the county this year began outside a home and then spread to it.

Officials say they typically see about half that number annually.

One of those incidents occurred at a home on West Burda Place in New City last month. The house remains condemned after being destroyed by fire.

"When you talk about external fires that start from the outside and catch your house on fire, they're the most dangerous thing and it's really life safety because as an occupant of the house, you don't realize it's happening," said Chris Kear of Rockland Fire & Emergency Services about the importance of sharing this safety message.

Kear said several causes have been linked to outdoor fires that spread to homes this year, including smoking materials like cigarettes, grills, a child playing with matches, improper disposal of materials and lightning strikes.

At the Rockland Fire Training Center, officials have taken steps to reduce fire risks on their own property.

"We have stone instead of mulch and that's noncombustible items," Kear pointed out.

Officials are especially encouraging residents to remain vigilant as outdoor fire pit use increases during the fall season.

"Sitting outside around your fire pit, please make sure you extinguish your fire pit thoroughly with lots of water before you close up for the night and go to bed," said Kear.

Fire officials also recommend completely extinguishing cigarettes, keeping grills and firewood at least 10 feet away from homes and placing ashes in a metal container.

They say following those precautions can help prevent outdoor fires from spreading and causing significant damage to homes.