Just want to share a few words of caution with you folks. Now that the weather is nicer

C

cynupstateny

Well-known member
many more people are grilling or sitting around the fire pit. Last week a local young man was taken to the Westchester Burn Center by helicopter. He made the mistake of lighting a fire pit,doused with gasoline, with a cigarette lighter.The fire flashed back and he began to burn. Flames out within 4 seconds but the damage was done. They do say he's very lucky. He managed to clamp his eyes shut and hold his breath. His contact lenses didn't melt in his eyes and his lungs weren't scorched. He'll recover- but with extensive scarring. We've all been told not to do this, but it continues to happen.NEVER light a grill or fire pit with a lighter.

 
And, never use gasoline to start a fire! The fumes are the most dangerous part...

...as they are invisible and make a cloud all around whatever you're trying to burn. When a source of ignition (a flame) enters this cloud, it bursts into flame and ignites whatever is in it's plume. If you've been standing next to the fire pit (or whatever) for a minute or two, the fumes are in your clothes. Strike a match and you're a tiki torch.

I once watched a demonstration at a fire station as part of a first aid class. In a well ventilated area, the Fire Chief put a lit cigarette out in a bucket of gasoline. He plunged it in quickly, on the end of a stick. It went out immediately, as if it were being plunged into water, and there was no iginition of the gasoline.

Then he turned off the fans (ventilation), put another lit cigarette onto a much longer stick and slowly lowered it towards the same bucket of gas. Whooooosh!!! It burst into flame before he even came into contact with the liquid.

Never, ever light a fire with gasoline!

Michael

 
Wow, that is awful and I am sorry. But,as far as I know ,gasoline should not be used to start fires?

 
Well said Michael & sorry I had this screen up,went away,and came back and posted before seeing this

 
Good warning - also, when you are lighting your gas grill, remember to open the lid first!

I know this is really basic info, but I did that recently without thinking.

I lit the grill, went in the house, and when I came back out to start the cooking, somehow the fire had gone out. Without thinking or lifting the lid, I pressed the starter button, and the resulting blast shot out of the bottom part of the grill. Luckily, the doors on it were closed, and they blew open, but gave just enough resistance so it wasn't a complete disaster.

What an idiotic move!

 
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