Page 12 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021 J& $45 yd. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. MULCH SALE! Discount Spring Special PICK-UP or DELIVERY AVAILABLE 617-389-1490 Premium Hemlock or Pitch Black BELOW WHOLESALE COSTS LANDSCAPERS WELCOME $4 yd. $40 yd. $3 yd. FIRE MARSHAL | FROM PAGE 7 • Refuel a cooled lawn mower; never refill while it is hot. • Keep hands and feet away from a mower while it is running. On May 20, 2020, the Charlton Fire Department was called to a riding lawn mower fire. The owner stated that he had just given it a tune-up and was mowing the lawn when he saw flames coming out from under the hood. On May 21, 2020, the Halifax Fire Department was dispatched to a garden tractor fire in the yard of a single-family home. Gasoline in the engine ignited, consuming the tractor. Damage was estimated at $500. On May 30, 2020, at 7:35 p.m., the Leominster Fire Department responded to a lawn mower fire in a back yard. The lawn mower backfired as it was being shut down and caught fire. On July 24, 2020, at 12:51 p.m., the Northbridge Fire Department responded to a garden tractor fire in a backyard. The gas tank had recently been filled, and the fire started shortly after starting. Gasoline and outdoor fires “Never use gasoline to start a campfire or add it to any indoor or outdoor fire,” said Ostroskey. “We have had so many injuries this year from people mishandling gasoline and other flammable liquids.” In the past five years, Massachusetts hospitals have reported treating 137 people with serious burn injuries from gasoline. On July 24, 2020, a 43-year old Lanesborough woman suffered severe burns on more than 70 percent of her body when she poured gasoline on a campfire. On July 19, 2020, a 39-year old Lawrence woman received burns to multiple parts of her body when someone poured gasoline onto a barbeque. Smoking safety Smoking was the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts last year, and there have been many fires this spring from improperly discarded smoking materials on porches and in backyards. These fires can smolder undetected for a long time, and when they erupt into flames, travel fast. If they start on the exterior of the building, these fires can get a strong hold before the interior smoke alarms start to warn anyone of the danger. “If you allow smoking on your property, provide appropriate receptacles for discarding smoking materials: a deep ashtray, a can with sand or water. Don’t let people toss smoking materials into the mulch, leaves, grass, potted plants or other containers that can catch fire. Don’t let them stub them out on the porch railing or stairs,” said Ostroskey. “Be a responsible smoker. Remember to put it out, all the way, every time.” On February 1, 2021, at 12:30 a.m., the Milford Fire Department responded to a fire at a single-family home. The fire was started by a cigarette on a rear porch. Two people were injured at this fire. Smoke alarms alerted the occupants. The home did not have sprinklers and damage was estimated at $270,000. On March 18, 2021, the Carlisle Fire Department was called to a smoking fire in a single-family home. A cigarette ignited a porch rug. Smoke alarms alerted the occupants, and no one was injured. There were no fire sprinklers, and damages were estimated to be $110,000. On April 22, 2021, the Berkley Fire Department responded to a smoking fire in a single-family FIRE MARSHAL | SEE PAGE 15
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