Hurricane Season Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety: Generators, Candles, Fuel and Downed Lines

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and every Central Florida resident knows the routine: water, batteries, shutters and gas cans. But the most dangerous part of a storm often comes after it passes. When the power is out for days, households turn to portable generators, candles, grills and stored fuel, and that is when fires and carbon monoxide poisonings rise. This guide focuses on the fire and CO risks DeBary families face during hurricane season, and how to avoid them.

Why carbon monoxide is the hidden storm danger

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced whenever fuel burns. You cannot see it or smell it, and at high levels it can kill in minutes. CDC reports that more than 400 Americans die every year from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit an emergency department, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.

Portable generators are the biggest single culprit among engine-powered tools. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report found that portable generators were linked to 800 of 931 non-fire CO deaths associated with engine-driven tools from 1999 through 2012, more than 85 percent. CPSC also found that a CO alarm was present in only about 8 percent of those engine-driven tool death cases.

The pattern after hurricanes is well documented. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, a CDC investigation in Alabama and Texas found that a portable generator was involved in 25 of the 27 CO poisoning incidents studied. Among households interviewed, generators that were outdoors averaged only about 3.2 feet from the home, often placed close to power a window air conditioner. In all four fatal incidents, the generator or a gas stove was inside the home or garage. In other words, “outside” is not enough. Distance matters.

Portable generator safety, the CPSC way

A generator can keep your refrigerator, fans and medical equipment running after a storm. Used correctly, it is a lifesaver. Used carelessly, it is one of the deadliest appliances you can own.

Placement

• Run the generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house.
• Point the exhaust away from your home and your neighbors’ homes.
• Keep it away from windows, doors and vents, including soffit, dryer and bathroom exhaust vents.
• Never run it inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors and windows open.
• Do not run it on a porch, in a carport or inside a screened lanai, all of which can trap exhaust next to the house.

Choosing a safer generator

If you are buying a new generator before the season, CPSC recommends looking for a model with a CO shut-off safety feature and certification to the PGMA G300 standard (2018 or 2023 edition) or UL 2201. CPSC notes that UL 2201 models are designed to emit less carbon monoxide.

Wet weather and electrical safety

Generators and rain are a shock hazard. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for operating in wet conditions, which may mean using a purpose-built generator cover or waiting until the rain stops. Use heavy-duty, grounded (three-prong) extension cords rated for the load, and never use frayed or damaged cords, according to OSHA.

Never backfeed your home

Plugging a generator into a wall outlet, sometimes called backfeeding, sends power back through your home’s wiring and out onto utility lines. OSHA warns never to attach a generator directly to a building’s electrical system unless a qualified electrician has installed it with a transfer switch. Backfeeding can electrocute utility line workers trying to restore power, injure neighbors, and start fires in your own home.

Store and handle fuel safely

Before a storm, many families fill several gas cans. That fuel is a serious fire hazard if it is stored or handled carelessly.

• Use approved containers. OSHA recommends fuel be kept in approved, properly labeled containers.
• Store it away from living areas and away from anything that produces heat or flame, including the generator itself, water heaters, dryers and grills.
• Refuel only when the engine is off and cool. OSHA warns that fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
• Keep fuel and generators away from children and pets.
• Do not overfill, and wipe up spills before restarting the engine.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy where you refuel, and know how to use it.

Candles, lighting, charging and cooking during outages

When the lights go out, candles come out, and candle fires follow. CPSC recommends using flashlights or battery-operated candles instead of real flame. If you do use candles:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended, and blow it out before leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles away from curtains, bedding, paper and anything else that can burn.
• Use sturdy holders on a stable surface, out of reach of children and pets.

Power banks, cordless tool batteries and e-bike batteries also see heavy use after storms. Charge them on hard surfaces, away from beds and couches, and stop using any battery that is swollen, hot or damaged. Our guide to lithium-ion battery safe charging has more detail.

Cooking without power

Grills and camp stoves are a natural backup when the electric range is out, but they are fuel-burning appliances that produce CO.

• Never use a charcoal grill indoors. CPSC warns that burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of CO.
• Do not cook on a charcoal grill in the garage, even with the garage door open.
• Keep grills well away from the house, siding, eaves and screen enclosures.
• Never leave a grill unattended, and let coals cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container.

Install and test CO and smoke alarms before the storm

CPSC recommends battery-operated or battery-backup smoke alarms and CO alarms on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas, ideally interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound. Battery backup is essential, since hardwired alarms without it stop working when the power goes out.

• Test every smoke and CO alarm at the start of hurricane season.
• Replace batteries in any alarm that uses replaceable batteries.
• Check manufacture dates: smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years after their manufacture date, and CDC suggests replacing CO detectors per the manufacturer’s instructions or about every five years.
• Keep spare batteries in your hurricane kit.
• Never ignore an alarm. Get outside first, then call 911.

Our full guide to smoke alarm placement, testing and replacement explains which types to buy and where to put them, including a replacement-date calculator in our fire safety checklist.

After the storm: downed lines, flooding and power restoration

Downed power lines

Storms bring down trees and power lines across West Volusia. Duke Energy advises staying at least 30 feet away from a downed line and always assuming it is live, even if it is not sparking. Never drive over a downed line. If a line falls on your vehicle, stay inside and call 911, leaving only if there is an immediate danger such as fire. Report downed lines to your electric utility or call 911.

Flooded homes and appliances

Flooding brings its own fire and shock hazards. DeBary sits on Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River, and after Hurricane Ian in 2022 the river reached record levels near Sanford, across the lake, with flooding that receded slowly over weeks. CPSC advises:

• Do not touch wet appliances that are still plugged in.
• Have a professional or your utility inspect flooded appliances before using them.
• Replace gas control valves, electrical wiring, circuit breakers and fuses that have been under water.

When the power comes back

Restoration can bring its own surprises. Before power returns, turn off or unplug appliances that were running when the outage hit, especially stoves, space heaters, irons and other heat-producing devices, so they do not switch back on while unattended. Once power is restored, shut down and disconnect your generator. If you smell burning, see sparks, or notice scorch marks around outlets, turn off power at the breaker if it is safe to do so and call 911.

Build a hurricane kit with fire and CO safety in mind

The Florida Department of Health recommends storing 3 to 7 days of supplies, including about one gallon of water per person per day. Along with the basics, add the items that keep you safe from fire and CO:

Also review your home fire escape plan. When hurricane shutters are up, some escape windows may be blocked, so make sure every bedroom still has a way out.

How the support team helps after storms

Hurricanes mean long shifts for the firefighters who staff DeBary’s Stations 33 and 39. The DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team’s rehab unit, Support 33, carries water, sports drinks, snacks, ice, fans, tents and generators to help crews recover during extended operations, along with clothing for residents displaced by fire. It is one more way our community looks after the people who look after us.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• CPSC: Protect Your Family from CO Poisoning and Other Post-Storm Dangers
• CPSC: Portable Generators Hold Top Spot in Report on Carbon Monoxide Deaths
• CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
• CDC MMWR: CO Poisonings After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005)
• OSHA: Using Portable Generators Safely
• Duke Energy: Safety Around Power Lines
• Florida Department of Health: Build a Disaster Supply Kit
• FOX Weather: St. Johns River reaches record levels after Hurricane Ian

Help keep Support 33 ready for storm season. Support the team or volunteer with us. Contributions or gifts to the DeBary Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.