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Darke County Sheriff
Do Not use gasoline
to start recreational fires!
The Darke County Fire Chief’s Association and the Darke County
Sheriff’s Office are releasing a reminder to residents not to use
gasoline to start recreational fires. This release and public
service announcement comes on the heels of two incidents in the last
couple of weeks in Darke County where children have been seriously
burned. In both incidents the children were innocent bystanders
when others attempted to start a bonfire with gasoline. In
both cases the gasoline was used during the fire starting
process. Once the fire was ignited it traveled the path of the
vapors and liquid which led to the gasoline container in the hands of
the subjects trying to start the fire. This immediately caused a
panic to throw away the container. In both incidents the children
were nearby when the burning containers were thrown and either were hit
with the burning container or splashed with the burning gasoline
liquid.
What makes gasoline dangerous for such uses is its low flash point of
-45 degrees F, meaning it will put off an ignitable vapor during almost
any environment in Ohio. Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and
can easily travel to ignitable sources low to the ground. In
addition gasoline vapors and liquids are readily absorbed into fabrics
making clothing flammable during spills and contact with the
liquid.
Gasoline should never be used to start recreational fires of any
kind. There are a number of other safer mechanisms to start such
fires. The safest solution is lighting ordinary combustibles like
small dry kindling wood with a match. There are commercially
available lighter fluids and gels that have much higher flash
temperatures making them somewhat safer than gasoline. Another
solution to consider would be fire starting sticks designed for this
purpose. These items are often available in camping/ sporting
goods sections of local retail stores. Recreational fires should
be started only by adults and children should be closely supervised at
all times. Camp fires should be in controlled outdoor
environments utilizing approved fire pits that can better contain the
fire. Fires should never be left unattended and should be
properly extinguished when no longer in use.
Your Darke County Fire Chiefs and Darke County Sheriff want the
citizens and visitors of Darke County to have a safe summer and be
vigilant against unsafe practices that could harm you or your children.
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