Post Tagged with: "Spring fire safety"

The warm spring weather has finally arrived. It’s time for spring cleaning, barbecuing and practicing home fire saftey plans. So before firing up a gas barbecue grill, here are some helpful recommendations from the 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department. Grills should be inspected to ensure there is no buildup of grease or spider webs that inhibit the flow of gas to the controls. Ensure rodents have not made a nest in the area of the hoses and controls over the winter. This can cause propane to leak and ignite when the grill is ignited. If such a condition occurs, turn off the gas supply at the controls (if the controls are not on fire). If the controls are on fire, turn off the gas at the supply (propane tank). Call 1-1-2 to report the incident and the fire department will respond to ensure the fire is out and the gas is properly turned off. The following are fire safety facts and tips for grills from the National Fire Protection Association. • Twenty-seven percent of the home structure fires involving grills started on a courtyard, terrace or patio. 29 percent started on an exterior balcony or open porch, and