By Rex Jordan, Hanford Fire Marshal

Most fires can be traced to a failure. A piece of equipment fails and starts a fire, or human failures create a condition resulting in a fire.

This is the time of year we begin to cook outdoors, gas up our mowers and trimmers, start cleaning and painting projects, and doing other things with gasoline, paint thinners, and flammable materials. Think about the increased danger of such products as you use them.

A recent fire caused severe damage to a local residence and the cause was determined to be "having gasoline in an open container." That probably translates to cleaning parts in gasoline, a very dangerous thing to do. Treat gasoline with respect, because it’s always ready to ignite. All it needs is a static spark, electrical arc, or other source of ignition.

Here are some other tips for a fire-safe summer:

Place your outdoor cooking equipment on a non-combustible base if at all possible and keep it away from materials that will readily ignite.

Keep all trash away from wooden decks or porches, beneath windows, or next to vehicles.

When you travel, be aware, of your surroundings and anticipate what you would do in case of a wild land fire and which route to take to be safe.

If you stay in a hotel, check for the alternate exits that could be used in an emergency.

If your car, truck or RV catches fire, get your family well away and stay away. These types of fire generate a tremendous amount of toxic smoke so get upwind and stay at a safe distance.

Having a fire extinguisher is good but whether you’re safe in using it is a judgement call you have to make. Fire extinguishers usually last about 2 seconds per pound of extinguishing agent, and vehicles generally carry small extinguishers. Even a 10 pound extinguisher will only last between 15 and 20 seconds and you have to get close to be effective, especially if a wind is blowing against you.

Have a fire safe summer. And remember that you’re not a failure, so don’t fail to heed the warnings, to use common sense and to avoid causing a fire!

Hanford Reach, July 6, 1998 issue.