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Enviro-Log offers fire safety tips

Firelog manufacturer promotes safer, more enjoyable fires

-- Casual Living, 4/8/2010 6:15:00 AM

Enviro-Log, Inc., an eco-friendly consumer products and recycling company, wants to ensure consumers enjoy outdoor fires safely.

“Spring and summer are just around the corner and with warmer weather on the way many people will be enjoying their outdoor fire pits, chimeneas and campfires,” said Ross McRoy, president of Enviro-Log.

“Fire pits and chimeneas are a great way to get a campfire experience in the comfort of your own backyard, however anytime you are dealing with fire, you should always be mindful of precautions to avoid accidents or injuries,” McRoy said. “Huddling around a campfire can also be a wonderful experience, but this too requires adhering to fire safety guidelines to prevent wildfires, property damage and loss of life.”

The Fitzgerald, Ga.-based manufacturer offers the following fire safety tips to help make outdoor activities safer and more enjoyable.

* Build your fire in a safe area. Open fires and fuel-burning appliances must be far enough away from tents, homes, property and wooded areas to prevent ignition from sparks, flames and heat. Never use a flame or any other heating device inside a tent. Use a flashlight or battery-powered light instead.

* Children should be closely supervised near any outdoor fire. Children playing with fire cause hundreds of injuries and deaths each year. A 2006 report by the National Fire Protection Association stated children playing with fire started an estimated 14,500 structural fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments, causing an estimated 130 civilian deaths, 810 civilian injuries and $328 million in direct property damage. Keep all matches and other fire-making materials away from children and make sure an adult is always present when burning outdoor fires.

* Make sure your fires are always attended. Be sure you have an area for a fire that cannot spread laterally or vertically. When putting the fire out, drown it with water, making sure all embers, coals and sticks are wet. Embers buried deep within the pile have a tendency to reignite later.

* Always make sure that your fire is not located underneath trees or power lines. There should be a minimum 15-foot circle around your fire that is clear of dry leaves or other flammable materials. Build your fire slowly, and use kindling, instead of lighter fluid, to start your fire. Use a poker to adjust the fire and avoid burns from flyaway sparks. Always keep a garden hose or other water source nearby, and make sure guests do not walk, sit or stand within 3 feet of the fire.

* Building a raging bonfire is unneeded for camping. If the flames are over 5 feet above the pit or ring, especially if they are sparking, the fire is too large. Flying sparks can cause small fires, often without notice until it is too late, that can quickly develop into an out of control fire. You can have a great fire without having one that is a huge blaze.

* Never leave a burning or smoldering fire unattended. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Be sure the fire is completely out before leaving your backyard or campsite.

* Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Fire extinguishers are portable and effective for both indoor and outdoor use. Be sure to follow the operating instructions and follow the PASS method when extinguishing a fire: Pull pin; Aim at base of fire; Squeeze handle, and Sweep from side-to-side.

Each year thousands of homes, businesses and other structures are damaged by wildfires resulting in more than $200 million in damage. According to a 2009 report by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, nine out of 10 wildfires in the U.S. are caused by people who have not followed fire safety guidelines, including leaving campfires unattended, and careless discarding of smoking materials or BBQ coals. Severe drought experienced in many parts of the country over the past few years also makes it even more imperative that people exercise extreme caution when burning campfires, fire pits and chimineas.

More information on Enviro-Log can be found at www.enviro-log.net or by calling (866) 343-6847. Retailers can also e-mail sales@enviro-log.net.

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