When it's hot, it's hot Published March 14, 2007 By Mike Newbury Tyndall Fire and Emergency Services TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Recently, several avoidable fire mishaps have occurred at Tyndall. The improper disposal of hot charcoal caused the contents of a dumpster to ignite and in another case, the improper disposal of a cigarette butt caused a trash can to catch fire. Both fires were controlled and extinguished before anyone was hurt or any major fire damage occurred. This can be attributed to a little luck and the use of good emergency reporting procedures by the persons who discovered the fires. The Tyndall Fire and Emergency Services Flight would like to offer the following safety tips with these two incidents in mind. Disposing of barbecue coals In 2003, an estimated 600 house fires and 3,000 outdoor fires near home properties were reported to U.S. fire departments involving charcoal-fueled or other solid-fueled grills according to the National Fire Protection Association. Improper use of grills and improper disposal of hot coals were contributing factors. To keep your grilling season safe, keep grills at least 10 feet from combustibles, including the exterior of the structure. Do not grill on balconies or in garages. When using grills on decks or patios, be sure to leave sufficient space for siding and eaves. Also, never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited. Never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid to ignite charcoal. Make sure used coals are completely cold before disposing of them. It is good practice to leave the coals in the grill for at least 48 hours before disposal, and then stir the coals to ensure they are cold prior to putting them in the trash. Proper cigarette disposal In 2003, there were an estimated 25,600 smoking-material structure fires in the U.S. These fires resulted in an estimated 760 deaths, 1,520 injuries and $481 million in direct property damage, according to the NFPA. These facts alone give enough reason to think prior to flicking a cigarette out the window or disposing of it in an improper location. Approved receptacles are located around base facilities for the disposal of smoking material. Please use only these receptacles for your smoking material and do not use them as trash cans. Smoking material receptacles must be emptied when they are full or the chance of a fire occurring greatly increases. Prior to dumping your receptacle, be sure to thoroughly soak the contents with water and ensure that no smoldering exists. When pumping gas Heed the warnings posted throughout the service station. Caution signs, warning signs and labels are posted on gas pumps advising motorists of things to do prior to transferring fuel, such as: turn off motor; extinguish smoking material; and other pertinent information. However, fueling instructions are not always located in one general location at gas pumps. The gas pump user may find fueling instructions on island columns and other information on the side or front of the gas pump itself. Unfortunately, caution signs and labels may get over looked with this posting arrangement especially during inclement weather or during extreme hot and cold temperatures when the user is in a hurry. When extinguishing smoking material prior to pumping gas, ensure it is done inside your vehicle, before parking at the pump. Ensure the smoking material is not discarded in trash receptacles near the pump. A fire near a gas pump can have catastrophic results. Be sure to do all you can to help avoid this situation by disposing of your smoking material properly. The Tyndall Fire and Emergency Services Flight thanks those who help keep our people and facilities safe from fire. For more information, call the fire prevention flight at 283-2909.