Be Prepared

So what can you and your family do to be prepared for summer fire hazards at home and on the road? You can start by familiarizing yourselves with some important safety precautions for barbecues, campfires and summer storms. Applying these prevention tips to your indoor and outdoor activities can help decrease the likelihood of fire emergencies this summer.

• Never leave children unattended near outdoor grills, fireworks or campfires. Be sure they know how to dial 999 in case of an emergency.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of water (or sand) nearby when using outdoor grills or campfires in case of emergency.
• Avoid loose clothing around any kind of outdoor fire or flame.
• Do not add lighter fluid to an already lit fire. The flame can flashback up into the container and explode.
• Never use a grill in enclosed areas. Carbon monoxide can be produced, leading to the increased likelihood of fire.
• Be sure the outdoor grill is fully extinguished before disposing of contents. Douse hot coals with water and stir them to be sure the fire is out. Store them in a metal container far away from your home or combustibles for at least 24 hours afterward.
• Do not overfill the propane tank and check the connection between the tank and the fuel line to be sure it is not blocked.
• After lighting a campfire, do not discard the match until it is cold. Break it apart so that you can feel the charred portion before you dispose of it.
• Use long handled tongs and skewers when cooking over a grill or campfire to prevent injury to yourself and to prohibit the spread of flames to clothing.
• Store fuel for outdoor equipment like lawn mowers in approved containers. Place containers away from the home and far from any heat source.
• Never throw a lighted cigarette from the window of a vehicle or walk off and leave a burning cigarette.
• Remove overhanging branches, tall grass, brush, dead leaves and shrubbery that touch or are too close to your home. It will quickly fuel a wildfire or lightening fire approaching your house.
• Remember - the same elements that cause outdoor fires, like lightening or grilling, can quickly spread to your home. Make sure smoke alarms are working properly and make sure you practice two ways out of each room of your home.