Each year gasoline causes several thousand household fires, many of which result in injury and even death. It is helpful to remember gasoline is a volatile liquid that is constantly releasing flammable vapors, which are heavier than air and accumulate at the lowest point in an area. If released inside a building, these vapors sink to floor level and spread out across the room, and if these vapors make contact with an ignition source a flash-fire will likely result.

Gasoline Safety Basics

• Keep gasoline out of children's reach and sight, and never allow children to handle gas
• Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent.
• Never use gasoline to wash mechanical parts.
• Never use gasoline to start a fire in barbecue pits or cooking grills.
• Never use gasoline as a replacement for kerosene or diesel.
• Do not use or store gasoline near potential ignition sources, including gas-fired water heaters that contain a pilot flame.
• Follow all manufacturers’ instructions when using electronics (including all devices with batteries or connections to electrical outlets) near gasoline.
• Clean up spills immediately and discard clean-up materials properly.

In the Event of Gasoline Fire

• Leave the area immediately, and call the fire department.
• Do not attempt to extinguish the fire.
• Do not attempt to stop the flow of gasoline.

Gasoline Storage

• Store gasoline outside in a garage or shed
• Never store gasoline in glass, or in plastic milk jugs and other non-reusable plastic containers.
• Store gasoline in a tightly closed metal or plastic container designed, manufactured, and approved specifically for gasoline storage.
• Store only the amount of gasoline necessary to power equipment and machinery.

Fueling and Handling Gasoline

• Do not smoke while handling gasoline.
• Use caution when fueling machinery and automobile equipment
• Never fuel machinery or equipment indoors, and always let it cool before refueling.
• Place portable gasoline containers on the ground before filling, and only fill them outdoors.
• Never fill portable containers inside a vehicle or in the bed of a pick-up truck, to prevent a static charge from developing.
• Do not get in and out of automobiles while fueling … Although rare, this movement creates an electrical charge on your body that could spark a fire, especially during dry weather conditions.

Electrical distribution equipment poses serious fire safety threats that can even be fatal, especially when equipment is used incorrectly.

Electrical Safety Basics

• Protect electrical outlets with plastic safety covers if small children are present in your home.
• Never operate electrical appliances around bathtubs, showers, or puddles of standing water.
• Use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection when working where water is near electricity, to protect against electric shock … This means you should use GFCIs in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and outdoor locations.
• Replace or repair frayed, loose, or otherwise damaged cords on all electronics.
• Shut off the circuit and have it checked by an electrician if any switches feel warm.
• Take note of any discolored switch plates, because discoloration could indicate that the electrical wiring behind the switch plate is overheating.
• Remember: symptoms of potential wiring problems include household lights that dim or flicker, a TV picture that shrinks in size, frequent blown fuses, or circuit breakers that trip frequently.
• Place lamps on level surfaces, away from flammable items, and use light bulbs that match the lamps’ recommended wattages.

The respiratory health hazards of smoking are well-publicized, but a lesser-known fact is that smoking materials are the leading cause of fire-related deaths in the U.S. The most commonly ignited items in these fatal fires are mattresses and bedding, upholstered furniture, and floor coverings.

Smoking Fire Safety

• Smoke outside, so you Do not put others at risk.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Never smoke in an area where oxygen tanks are being used.
• Don’t smoke if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs that impair your ability to handle smoking materials correctly.
• Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy surface.
• Make sure butts and ashes are extinguished by soaking them in water before discarding them.
• Check under furniture cushions, and in other places people smoke, for butts and ashes that may have fallen out of sight.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children's sight and reach.
• Consider using fire-safe cigarettes, which are less likely to cause fires.

The respiratory health hazards of smoking are well-publicized, but a lesser-known fact is that smoking materials are the leading cause of fire-related deaths in the U.S. The most commonly ignited items in these fatal fires are mattresses and bedding, upholstered furniture, and floor coverings.

Smoking Fire Safety

• Smoke outside, so you Do not put others at risk.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Never smoke in an area where oxygen tanks are being used.
• Don’t smoke if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs that impair your ability to handle smoking materials correctly.
• Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy surface.
• Make sure butts and ashes are extinguished by soaking them in water before discarding them.
• Check under furniture cushions, and in other places people smoke, for butts and ashes that may have fallen out of sight.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children's sight and reach.
• Consider using fire-safe cigarettes, which are less likely to cause fires.