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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Devastating wild fires continue to burn in several southwestern states. Across the Heartland, we continue to deal with our own fires. Natural cover grass fires have been more common then not this summer because of our ongoing drought.

But are you covered by your insurance if a grass fire spreads to you property and causes damage?

“Any kind of fire that comes from a grass fire and even if it comes from another property. Maybe it is in your neighbors hay field. Anytime your house or property burns and you have homeowners insurance, that house or property will be covered,” said Whitney-Harrison Insurance Consultant Larry Byars.

During this time of extreme drought and elevated fire danger, it’s important to realize that flames aren’t the only threat during these fires. The real danger often lies in hot embers that are blown around by the wind and eventually spread the fire or worse, drift into a house.

It is important to remember some safety tips to help avoid potential disaster on your property.

Maintain a safe zone around your house. This includes keeping grass cut, trimming trees, and maintaining landscaping within 30 feet of your home.

It is also important to remember to keep all combustibles such as gasoline, propane tanks, and fire wood safely protected and out of the elements.

And you might not be worried about your gutters with the lack of rain, but it is also important to make sure you don’t have any dry debris trapped in them that could easily ignite.

Use flame-resistant materials when possible and be extremely careful when discarding cigarettes.

Most importantly though, you should have working smoke detectors on every floor of your home and check them periodically to make sure they are in working order.