The garage is perhaps one of the most at-risk areas of the home for fires. Why is that? For one thing, it is the place we usually store the most combustible items like gas canisters, cleaning supplies, paint cans, and outdoor equipment. These items must be stored correctly, otherwise, they become even more of a fire hazard. What else can we do to reduce the risk of fire in a garage?
Make sure you have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms installed in your garage. Test them every month to make sure they remain in good working order. Open the garage door before you start your vehicle to prevent toxic fumes from building up. You should also keep the garage door open when doing any other type of work in the garage, such as working on your car or fixing gardening equipment, etc. Remember that hazardous fumes can become lethal very quickly in a confined space.
Be quick about cleaning up any oil spills or other hazardous liquids. Do not leave garbage bags, oily rags, or any other combustible items lying around on the garage floor, as these will greatly increase the potential for fire.
Finally, if your garage is attached to your home, you will need to be extra vigilant concerning fire safety. Inspect the door and door frame that connects the garage to the house. Make sure they do not have any cracks or gaps that could cause toxic fumes to escape and leak into the house.