Summer Dangers
Fireworks, outdoor barbecues and campfires are all part of summer fun and summer fire hazards.
As the song goes, “Summer time and the livin’ is easy.” Don’t we wish. In fact, summer is a time of frantic activity: vacation trips, fireworks celebrations, BBQs and the occasional electrical storm. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 8,000 of us are injured by fireworks and grill fires each year and more than half of those injuries occur during the first week in July. That’s no reason to spend the glory days of the year in your hammock.
Campfire Safety
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Most parks have designated fire rings, use them. Clear the immediate area of dry grass and leaves. With the growing danger of forest fires, agencies publish suggestions and guidelines for fire safety. Make yourself familiar with this information especially if you are traveling outside your home territory. Rules in the hot, dry Sierra and Rocky mountain ranges will be different from the damper climate mountains in the East. During particularly dangerous conditions, western parks will often curtail fires.
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Don’t let your campfire get out of control, keep it small. If you need protection from evening chill, grab a sweater or jacket.
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Keep water and a shovel close at hand to douse and bury a fire that has gotten out of control or to handle any mishap from flying sparks. Do not toss paper or trash onto the fire.
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At the end of the evening, douse the fire with water, stir the embers and douse again. Keep this up until the fire is thoroughly out. When you think it’s out, stir the ashes again to make sure there are no more glowing shards.
- Never leave a campfire unattended. We all see Survivor contestants maintaining their cook fire through the night. That’s TV. You’ve got matches to restart the fire.
Fireworks Safety
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The best way to enjoy Fourth of July fireworks is to spread out a blanket, set up the cooler and watch the professionals do all the work. You can “ooh” and “aah” from a safe distance and get a truly spectacular show.
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If your own fireworks display is a family tradition, then make sure the fireworks are legal in your community. As tempting as it may be, don’t import fireworks from over the border (a common practice in states bordering Mexico). Legitimate fireworks will include information on how to use, contents and whatever warnings are appropriate. If that information is not on the fireworks, don’t purchase them. If you already have, don’t use them.
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Never light fireworks indoors or near combustible vegetation like dried grass or dead leaves. Have a bucket of water on hand or your fire extinguisher (once you’ve read the instructions and know how to use it).
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Do not wear loose clothing while lighting or using fireworks.
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Step several feet away from a lit firework. If it does not go off, the last thing you should do is peer over it or pick it up to figure out what went wrong. Assume it’s a lethal dud; douse it with water and dispose of it safely.
- Keep an eye on your children during the whole fireworks evening, a very careful eye even if all they have are sparklers. You know your own children. If one of them is prone to risky behavior, provide an alternative to their own inventive idea of celebrating the Fourth like a trip to public fireworks displays.
BBQs and Grills
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If your grill of choice is propane, before starting check the connections between the tank and the fuel line and make sure the venturi tubes (where the air and gas mix) is not blocked. The best test for a leaking fuel line is to apply a coating of soap to the line. If there is a leak, the escaping gas will release bubbles. If the grill passes the soap test but you still smell propane, turn off the tank and the grill. If the smell goes away, have the grill serviced before use. If the smell continues, call your local fire department and keep heat sources away from the grill until it has been inspected and declared safe.
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All propane cylinders made after April 2002 must have overfill protection devices. Store propane containers outdoors. If you keep your grill in the garage over the winter, remove the fuel cylinder and let it winter outdoors. Do not overfill the propane cylinder.
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For charcoal grills, make sure you have the proper starter fluid and follow directions for its use. If you’ve run out, do not substitute any other flammable liquid.
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Once the charcoal is lit, put the starter fluid away. Never add more to a lit grill.
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After the feast, deal with the hot coals the same way you’d deal with a campfire. Douse with water, stir and douse again until the coals no longer glow. When the coals are cold to the touch, dispose of them in a sealed metal container, not paper or plastic bags.
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For any type of grill: be sure it is placed on a sturdy surface away from flammable materials like deck rails, home siding or under the eaves of any overhanging branches.
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Grills should be operated away from activity, especially playing children or pets. Try to enforce the same three-foot child-free zone that is applied to kitchen cooking centers.
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Use appropriate long-handled grilling tools so the cook has plenty of clearance away from flares from dripping fat. Avoid wearing loose clothing.
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Remove grease and fat buildup in trays below the grill. Consider that grease as flammable as the starter fluid.
While the odds of being hit by lightning are only a little better than winning a mega lottery, the greatest danger during a summer lightning storm is fire. Awareness is your best defense. The victims of lightning strikes are usually trees, brush and grass but sometimes homes are hit. Electrical wiring is often ignited because the electrical current in lightning is drawn to the wires. If you live in a high lightning strike area, contact your local fire department or emergency service providers for information on how best to protect your home.
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