Fire Safety Summer 2022

The summer season is full of outdoor events and fun. Events include backyard parties and picnics, beach gatherings and larger summer holiday events which include grilling, campfires, fireworks, boating and smoking.

Grilling Safety:

1. Only use gas grills, charcoal grills, smokers and fryers outdoors.
2. Always locate your grills at least 3 feet away from porch and deck rails, house siding, outdoor potted plantings and roof overhangs.
3. Keep kids and pets away from the grill and cooking surfaces.
4. Always clean your grill surfaces and empty or replace grease trays underneath.
5. Don’t walk away from your grill and leave it unattended while pre-heating or cooking.
6. If you are using a propane grill and smell gas turn off the grill and the tank valve and check the tightness of your connections. Check the level of gas in your tank. If the smell doesn’t dissipate, do not use the grill or tank. Contact 911 if the smell gets stronger.
7. If using a charcoal grill, never spray lighter fluid onto an already lit fire.
8. Store lighter fluid away from the grilling area.
9. Don’t discard hot charcoal coals. Wait for ash to cool before disposing.

Campfire Safety:

1. Prior to lighting a camp or bon fire, contact your local fire department or burning official to ensure it is allowed by both local and state laws and the daily fire danger rating.
2. Keep children and pets away from the fire, having them play away from the area.
3. Ensure buckets of water or a garden hose are present to put out the fire, quickly in an emergency or unintended fire spread.
4. Always keep fire flames manageable.
5. Clear away ground cover, sticks, leaves from your fire pit.
6. In the event of a clothing fire practice STOP-DROP-AND ROLL.
7. Always ensure the fire is out and embers cool before leaving the site.

Fireworks Safety:

1. Fireworks account for over 19,500 fires and 9,100 injuries annually in the United States. 36% of all injuries are suffered by children under the age of 15. Sparklers burn at 1200 degrees F, use of sparklers cause ¼ of all fireworks injuries.
2. Fireworks are not safe and should not be used by anyone who is not a pyrotechnic professional.
3. Only attend professional firework shows.

Smoking Safety:

1. If you or a guest smokes cigarettes, ensure the cigarettes are “fire-safe” and self-extinguishing.
2. Keep matches and lighters away from children.
3. While smoking outside, use a deep, heavy ashtray made of metal or glass.
4. Do not discard paper products, cigarette packaging or other items in the ashtray.
5. Locate ashtrays away from house siding, combustible/flammable items.
6. Never discard cigarettes into vegetation, mulch, potted plants, dried grasses or landscaping.
7. Before discarding ashtray remnants, douse in water to ensure all embers are extinguished.

Boating Safety:

1. Ensure proper connection of fuel lines. Check for gasoline, diesel fuel and propane leakage before leaving dockside.
2. Never use open flame devices or smoking materials around fuel sources.
3. Inspect and replace worn or frayed electrical wiring.
4. Only use electrical cords intended for marine use.
5. Have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) and Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupters (ELCIs) installed on your boat and inspected and tested monthly.
6. Ensure your boat has proper ventilation for the engine, generator and cooking ranges and that exhaust pipes are free from leaks which would allow Carbon Monoxide (CO) infiltration into passenger areas.
7. Keep persons away from exhaust vents. 
8. Install CO alarms on the boat.

VERTEX’s damage assessment team specializes in providing accurate, credible, and professionally prepared property loss evaluations and cost of repair or replacement estimates. Backed by expert testimony, our opinions have been tested – and proven successful – in numerous mediations, depositions, arbitrations, and at trial.

To learn more about VERTEX’s Forensic Fire Investigation Services and Fire Protection Engineering or to speak with a Fire Investigation Expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry.