Winter Garage Dangers, Be Smart News Article

[zer01]

Just thought I would post this story I saw today. Sometimes people forget even the most obvious dangers like painting near an open flame heat source. Even an enclosed in a wood stove is still not a good idea.

"Spray-painter burned in garage fire
Man was painting near a wood-burning stove

Updated: Wednesday, 08 Dec 2010, 6:43 AM EST
Published : Tuesday, 07 Dec 2010, 11:12 PM EST

CANNON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 57-year-old man was severely burned after an explosion occurred in a garage as he was spray-painting near a wood-burning stove.

Louis Deleau suffered second- and third-degree burns on nearly one-third of his body. He is being treated at the burn center at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

It was around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday when he was working in the unattached garage in the 4000 block of Cannonsburg Road in Cannon Township.

The fire chief told 24 Hour News 8 at the scene the paint fumes built up, causing the blast.

Deleau was able to get out of the garage on his own before the garage was destroyed by the flames."

 

[Chetter]

That is so sad and I feel really bad for the guy and hope that he makes a full recovery. You are exactly right about flammable fumes that can build and explode. I am really careful about the things I use when I am in the garage working on the car or some other project. I will heat the garage up first then shut the heat down so that I have time to do whatever and ventilate the garage before turning the heater back up. Gas cans stored in the garage are a big no-no also, I store mine in my storage barn since gas cans expand and burp fumes out.