FIRE AND SUMMER SAFETY ADVICE

5/8/2023 (Permalink)

FIRE AND SUMMER SAFETY ADVICE

Every year Americans look forward to summer vacations, camping, family reunions, and picnics. Summertime, however, also brings fires and injuries due to fireworks and outdoor grills. Annually thousands are injuries by fireworks and grill fires. Cooking grills cause more fires, injuries and million dollars damage. Most of the gas grill fires and explosions were caused by gas leaks, blocked tubes and overfilled propane tanks.

In addition to outdoor cooking, improper use of fireworks causes thousand fires and millions of damages.

There is advice on how to stay safe and be fire aware over the summer months. Relax and enjoy the outdoors, but remember to act responsibility, stay alert to danger and take fire safety precautions.

Fire Risk #1: Outdoor cooking

To keep the indoors cool when the temperatures outdoors, a good option is to swap cooking with your stovetop and oven for your outdoor cooking grill instead. Keep and use grill at least 10 feet away from your home or other structures, such as garages, sheds and tents and always on a level surface. Be prepared to put out the fire in as snap by keeping a spray bottle with water for small fires, a lid or other source to cut of oxygen to a grease fire or a fire extinguisher for any kind of flame. Clean your grill after each use, making sure grates and open flame sources are clean of debris, grease and food droppings.

Fire Risk #2: Fireworks

Firework safety is extremely important. Before you light up the summer night sky with fireworks, make sure your following firework safety tips.

• Make sure to have a working house or bucket of water nearby to use in case of mishap.
• Keep fireworks out of children.
• Only ignite fireworks at a safe distance away form structures and never ignite a fuse when standing over the top of the fireworks device. Never relight fireworks that have already been lit.

Fire Risk #3: Fire Pits and Patio Heaters

Fire pits and patio heater create ambiance for great gathering spaces when a nip in the summer night rises as the sun sets. But they don’t come without a few risks. Follow these guidelines for outdoor patio heater and fire pit safety to keep everyone cozy and secure.

• Like a grill, keep a fire pit at least 10 feet away from home or other buildings.
• Never leave a fire pit or running patio heater unattended.
• Take proper precautions when lighting afire pit or propane patio heater. Do not use lighter to fluid in the fire pit.