Gas-Fueled Fire Injuries

June 15, 2023

Grilling for Father’s Day? Remember These Safety Tips | Florida Injury Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Grilling is a well-liked and fun hobby that brings together families and friends. To avoid mishaps and potential harm, it is essential to put safety first.

Our group of knowledgeable accident injury attorneys have put together a list of priceless suggestions to make sure your grilling session is safe and enjoyable. If you are going to relish the sunshine and grill with your number one guy this Father’s Day weekend, then please remember these grilling guidelines:

Make sure your grill is in a safe distance from all buildings. Set your grill up away from your house, shacks, sheds, etc., as grills can sometimes not be fluid with fire and things like this, so you want to keep them away from any buildings or structures.
If you have any kids or pets, we recommend creating a hot zone around the grill so that they know not to get too close as they could get burned.
If you are cooking with propane, you want to check the fuel line before firing your grill up. The easiest thing to do is to get some soapy water and run it down the fuel line, and if you start to see bubbles, then you probably have a leak and you want to deal with that right away before you start grilling.
Store your propane tanks properly. It is best to store these upright and in a cool place because that is what the literature says to do.

Our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want you to always enjoy the popular hobby of grilling. We have seen cases where propane tanks have exploded at apartment complexes and caused very bad burn injuries, as well as cases where grille fires have destroyed homes and caused serious injuries.

If you have a grilling disaster or propane tank explosion and there are injuries, then please call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us online. We would love to help you – this is what we do. Continue reading

December 7, 2016

2 Hospitalized After Gas Leak At Orlando Strip Mall

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Emergency crews rushed two people to a hospital because of a gas leak at an Orlando strip mall Wednesday.

Two patients were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for dizziness but are in stable condition, according to reports.

The shopping plaza at Orange Blossom Trail and Holden Avenue was evacuated.

According to reports, a manager of a food store was chiseling away ice from a freezer containing fish when he hit a Freon line.

Hazmat crews responded to contain it. The Health Department and state fire marshal were called in.

No one ever wants to be involved in a gas leak situation. However, the truth is that these accidents happen, so it is best to be prepared. The following safety steps can be of help should a gas leak arise:

Alert everyone in the near vicinity and immediately get away from the gas odor.
Do not use any sources that may act as an ignition to a gas leak such as matches, vehicles, cell phones and flash lights until you move to a reasonable and safe distance away from the area.
Get to a safe place and then call 911.

February 26, 2015

GE to Pay $3.5 Million in Civil Penalties for Failure to Report Fire Hazards

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, General Electric has agreed to pay a $3.5 million civil penalty due to their failure to report an unreasonable risk of serious injury caused by defective ranges and dishwashers.

Reports show that the connector in the range’s wire harness can overheat and cause a fire, which could lead to serious burn injuries. In addition, various models of dishwashers were recalled because of similar fire hazards. The CPSC said the dishwashers could short circuit when condensation builds up on the control board.

Standard CPSC policy requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers to report any findings related to a potential safety hazard or defect to the CPSC immediately. Generally, all information regarding possible risks or dangers should be reported within 24 hours of obtaining the information.

GE and the CPSC announced the recall of 28,000 dual-fuel ranges in April of 2009. The ranges were sold across the United States from June 2002 through December 2005. By the time GE had recalled the product, 13 separate incidents had been reported regarding the harness and wiring overheating in the back of the range. Of these reported incidents, five resulted in a fire.

GE was apparently aware of this hazard dating all the way back to 2004. GE also failed to report the fire hazards that were found in Profile and Monogram Dishwashers that were sold between July 2003 and October 2010. GE recalled 174,000 units in 2010, but knew of several incidents reports dating back to 2007.

In addition to the payment of $3.5 million, GE has also agreed to a compliance program as part of the settlement. The compliance program will be set up to ensure that the Consumer Product Safety Act is being met as well as various protocols, including:

Proper procedures for recording, processing and reporting information regarding possible safety issues
Written standards and policies
Confidential employee reporting of compliance concerns to a senior manager
Senior management responsibility for, and general board oversight of compliance
Requirements for record retention

November 22, 2011

Thanksgiving Personal Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton on Avoiding Deep Fried Turkey Disasters

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many Floridians have opted to try a new spin on the holiday staple – deep fried turkey. While the results can be delicious, deep frying can also be quite dangerous. In fact, the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers require turkeys to be immersed in a large quantity of cooking oil at extremely high temperatures, which can ultimately release hot oil during the cooking process that can leave you and your neighbors, guests and loved ones with devastating burns and catastrophic injuries as well as put your home at risk for property damage.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day yields the highest number of cooking fires in the United States. Cooking fires are also the number one cause of home fires that cause an annual average of 390 deaths, 4,800 injuries and $771 million in property damage. With that said, the NFPA also reports that deep fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths, 60 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage every year.

As turkey frying peaks more and more interests, the number of fryer-related injuries and fires are on the rise. According to State Farm Insurance claims data from 2005-2010, the state of Florida ranks seventh in the top 10 states for Thanksgiving Day cooking fires. The other nine states with the most turkey fire-related insurance claims include Texas, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana and Louisiana.

To reduce the risk of deep fried disasters this holiday, follow these safety tips:

1. Avoid Filling Your Pot With Excess Oil – When a fryer contains too much oil, the odds the oil will spill out of the pot when the turkey is submerged is high. If the oil makes contact with a burner a major fire can arise. Read and follow all instructions with your cooking pot or fryer and make sure oil does not exceed the proper level.

2. Properly Thaw Your Turkey Before Dropping It Into the Oil – Placing a frozen or partially frozen turkey into a fryer can cause the hot oil to spill, which can result in a significant fire or burn injury. Do not thaw your turkey by using water, instead wait the proper amount of time until your turkey is fully thawed and then slowly release it into the pot so that splashing and spills are avoided.

3. Place Your Turkey Fryer On A Level Surface – Many fryer fires start on a structure or deck, so make sure you place your outdoor fryer on a firm and non-combustible surface. It is best to keep the fryer off of wooden surfaces and a safe distance away from buildings. Because many fryers are top-heavy it is essential to keep them on a level surface so that they do not tip over.

4. Don’t Leave Your Fryer Unattended – Remember that when you fry a turkey you are using grease or oil that is combustible, so do not walk away from a hot fryer. There are fryers that do not have thermostat controls and if unattended, the oil could ignite from extreme temperatures.

Should a cooking fire arise…
1. Get yourself and your loved ones away from the fire immediately. If the fire is in the house, closing the door behind you once you are outside may help to contain the fire.

2. Call 911 as soon as you can.

3. If you try to extinguish the fire, do not use ice or water. It is best to have an extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby should an emergency erupt.

4. Small grease fires can be contained by having a lid nearby when cooking that can smother grease fires. By placing the lid over the pan and turning the stovetop off, the fire can be smothered easily. The pan should remain covered until it is thoroughly cooled.

5. If an oven fire should arise, keep the oven door shut and turn the heat completely off.

Due to the risks of severe property damage and serious bodily injuries associated with frying turkeys, the NFPA advises that for those craving fried turkey this holiday season to purchase one already fried from a local specialty food or grocery store. No matter how you choose to prepare your turkey this year, the Florida Personal Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton, LLC advise you to exercise extreme caution and wish you and your loved ones a safe holiday season.