With all the rain we’ve received, the grass is growing quickly and when your gasoline powered lawn mower needs more fuel, Perry Fire Chief Chris Hinds reminds residents that there are some simple things you can do to avoid an accident or spill.

“You never want to fill that (gas can) up inside your vehicle!  Whether you have a pickup truck and it’s setting in the open box and you think ‘Well, I’ll just reach over here and stick the hose in here and fill it’ or whatever, that is not a good idea. When refilling your gas can, always remove it from your vehicle.  Take it out and place it on the ground.”

Hinds also reminds us that once you start fueling either your vehicle or a gas can, it’s important to stay out of the vehicle until you are done.

“The static electricity, and this relates more to people with clothes seats but it’s still even possible with leather and vinyl seats, you create a friction.  Those fumes are hanging heavy in the air as you fuel your vehicle, so if you slide out of that vehicle and you start the pump going but do not get back into that vehicle because there is the potential for a static electricity spark.”

Additionally, Hinds says it’s important to only use Occupational Safety and Health Administration approved gas cans.