2 Hurt in open fires

Two men were injured in accidents involving open fires in Anne Arundel County over recently, prompting a seasonal safety reminder from firefighters.

Early on Oct. 10, a 46-year-old man was taken to the burn center at Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital in Baltimore suffering from serious burns to his torso, face, arms and hands.

Firefighters said he was burned after throwing an aerosol paint can into a burning fire pit in the 400 block of Rose Avenue in Glen Burnie. The can ruptured and the explosion engulfed him in flames. The accident followed by a few days an incident in Arnold.

A 28-year-old was taken to the burn center Oct. 8 after he climbed onto a 15-foot wide, 3-foot high pile of debris and dumped gasoline to accelerate a smoldering fire in the 500 block of Burning Tree Circle. The vapors flashed, resulting in serious burns to his legs, arms, and face.

Neither man's injuries were considered life-threatening. In a statement issued Monday, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said fall is a peak season for outdoor fire pit use and burning yard debris. It released a list of safety tips for anyone using backyard fire pits or conducting open burns:

* Supervise children at all times. Instruct them to stay at least 10 feet away from the fire.

* Instruct children that fire pits and embers remain extremely hot even into the next day. Prevent children from approaching the fire pit until the temperature returns to normal.

* Prevent intoxicated persons from getting near an open fire.

* Disclose your fire pit to your homeowner's insurance company to be sure you are covered if someone is injured or property is damaged.

* Check wind direction before lighting the fire to be sure sparks are not blown toward flammable materials, objects, and structures.

* Avoid wearing loose-fitting or flammable clothing, like nylon, that can easily catch fire.

* Be aware that softwoods, such as pine and cedar, tend to throw sparks and pop.

* Have a working fire extinguisher ready and know how to extinguish fires and dispose of ashes and embers properly.

The requirements for open fires, fire pits, bonfires and open burning are located on the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website at aahealth.org/openburn/.

Recreational fires, such as campfires, bonfires and backyard fires in fire pits, are allowed under County Code without a license. Recreational fires are limited to 1 cubic yard or less of clean, natural wood. Burning leaves is allowed in areas of the county where leaf collection service is not available. Leaf burning fires must be located at least 300 feet from dwellings, businesses or other areas where people work or congregate. Leaf burning is prohibited between June 1 and Aug. 31.

Cooking fires are allowed under County Code for the purpose of cooking food on residential property for groups, gatherings and other events.A license is not required where space heaters, salamanders or other similar devices are used to heat outdoor areas for workers, outdoor events, or inside buildings under construction that are open to the outside.