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My Home Safety

Outdoors

Like indoor living, our outdoor living has become second nature to American families. But just because we’re outdoors does not mean that fire safety awareness should be forgotten. Outdoor fires can also be a risk to your home so take this opportunity to become familiar with the typical outdoor hazards and how to handle them. Prevention is still the best way to fight fires.

  1. Flammable objects
  2. Outdoor grill precautions
  3. Outdoor cooking precautions
  4. Storage areas
  5. Outdoor fire prevention
Have you considered...
Notice the conditions in your immediate vicinity with regard to dryness before setting up your cooking grill or other flammable objects. When lighting your grill or building a fire, we are reminded by fire authorities that a stray spark can ignite a lawn or brush fire. Always keep a UL registered fire extinguisher close at hand and make sure everyone in the family is educated on its proper usage.
Many outdoor cooking fires result from improper handling and maintenance of gas grills. Fire safety authorities recommend checking for problems such as leaks, blocked tubes or overfilled propane tanks before each use. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and consider cleaning and checking your grill regularly. Also if your barbeque grill is on a deck or patio, leave sufficient space between home sidings and structures.
When cooking outdoors apply the same precautions with children that you would practice in your kitchen. Teach your children the importance of keeping a safe distance from all open fires and heated surfaces. Do not leave children unattended.
Fire safety authorities remind us that gasoline is dangerous and should never be brought near a fire or to start one. If you use a charcoal grill only use charcoal starter fluid and follow the instructions on the packaging. Take extra care with gasoline powered lawn equipment. Before refueling, wait until the engine cools off. Learn how to store gasoline fuel in approved containers.
During every season we need to practice fire prevention for the outdoors as well as indoors. Simple procedures can improve our fire safety year round. Make sure your home's exhaust vents are not blocked by ice or snow that can cause fumes to build up in your home. Cold weather shouldn't prevent us from practicing fire safety and prevention.
  1. Flammable objects
  2. Outdoor grill precautions
  3. Outdoor cooking precautions
  4. Storage areas
  5. Outdoor fire prevention

The Outdoors