Store fuels far, far away
By Sharon Haddock
Mormon Times
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2010
Storers, beware. If you're stacking the shelves in the basement with little bottles of propane or piling up cans of kerosene, gasoline or propane in the garage, you're risking the family you mean to protect and probably voiding your home insurance coverage.
(In most cases, the law allows two 1-pound canisters of propane in a single-family garage. All other amounts and types of fuels need to be at least 100 feet away from the home. Allstate representative Scott Leightman recommends checking with an agent for specific coverage restrictions.)
Prudent living is flip side of crisis living
Store medical items you know how to use
Should you plan to share your food storage?
All types of fuel -- except solar power and lower powered batteries -- can be dangerous when stored in or adjacent to the home, says a fuels expert who tries to warn people about getting carried away with storing fuels.
Jonathan Jones and his wife tour Utah County teaching how to cook and heat with various ovens and contraptions like an insulated haybox or apple box.
They became "experts" after conducting the research they felt they needed to define exactly what they wanted for their family of 11 children.
They learned what works best for basic meals, what works in the Utah climate and what produces the best results for the least money.
They also learned how to be respectful of combustibles.
"We still shy away from kerosene products because of the combustion potential of some of the byproducts," Jones said. "The Sun Oven continues to be our favorite. It's a great tool every family should have and use. There's nothing to store and nothing to cause a fire."
The Joneses use their Sun Oven year-round and make every kind of meal with it.
They also rely heavily on Dutch oven meals, enjoying a variety of stews, desserts and even breads from their efforts using charcoal and the earth.
Because they teach others about fuels, they own a number of various commercial products and they educate people about their use -- both in person and through their Web site yourfamilyark.org, which is drawing 10,000 hits a month.
"Hopefully there's some wisdom out there," Jones said. "People who have questions can get advice and guidelines through their local fire department. There's no need to have a problem."
However, with any kind of fuel storage it's critically important to have a working carbon monoxide detector and smoke detector.
That can make all the difference, Jones said.
Propane is a great fuel and relatively safe but large amounts need to be far from living quarters and in some subdivisions, putting a tank away from one's home may put it too close to a neighbor's.
"We encourage people to be good neighbors," Jones said. "Check your local ordinances and again, with the local fire department."
Wood is easier and safer to store and versatile in an emergency, he said. An added plus: People with a wood stove or fireplace will be able to cook at the same time they create heat.
"Become educated before you jump in," Jones advised. "Incorporate it into your lifestyle, learn its limitations before you have to depend on it."
Once educated about the various options, keep informed and keep the stoves or equipment maintained, he said.
Rusted propane tanks can render the fuel useless and endanger those in proximity.
Dented or damaged fuel containers can leak.
Whatever the method chosen for emergency situation cooking and heating, Jones says it's important to experiment and practice using it.
"That can make all the difference," he said.
"We cannot stress enough the importance of using wisdom in your use and storage of fuels! Place the safety of your loved ones at the very top of your list. Be wise (don't do stupid things)! Never store any flammable or combustible fuel in any building that you can't afford to have burn down!" the Joneses said on their Web site.
Cooking and heating
Simple ovens:
• Apple box oven, made from a grocer’s cardboard apple box. Cover it with foil, cut notches in the bottom and raise it slightly to allow for air flow. Layer 10-14 coals on the ground or on a cookie sheet. Bake cookies, etc. on a rack inside the box that is set on fruit cans.
• Paper box oven, made from a box. Cover it with foil, cut notches and use like an apple box oven. Since it’s smaller, it requires fewer coals. A blanket cover will hold in heat.
• Dutch ovens are easy to use and store but need to be used outside.
Various “stoves”:
• The Sun Oven, available online and at selected outlets for around $250-$300. Easy, portable, safe and solar power is free.
• Butane stoves, lightweight, hard to operate in cold weather.
• Solar parabolic ovens, track the sun, more expensive than some options.
Heating sources:
• Wood-burning stoves (be aware of community air quality standards) need clean, dry wood and good ventilation.
• Portable generators, somewhat costly, need adequate fuel on hand to run for a length of time.
• Fuel gel, fuel cubes, MRE heaters, batteries and battery packs.
• Charcoal briquets, cheap, inexpensive (never use indoors).
By Sharon Haddock
Mormon Times
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2010
Storers, beware. If you're stacking the shelves in the basement with little bottles of propane or piling up cans of kerosene, gasoline or propane in the garage, you're risking the family you mean to protect and probably voiding your home insurance coverage.
(In most cases, the law allows two 1-pound canisters of propane in a single-family garage. All other amounts and types of fuels need to be at least 100 feet away from the home. Allstate representative Scott Leightman recommends checking with an agent for specific coverage restrictions.)
Prudent living is flip side of crisis living
Store medical items you know how to use
Should you plan to share your food storage?
All types of fuel -- except solar power and lower powered batteries -- can be dangerous when stored in or adjacent to the home, says a fuels expert who tries to warn people about getting carried away with storing fuels.
Jonathan Jones and his wife tour Utah County teaching how to cook and heat with various ovens and contraptions like an insulated haybox or apple box.
They became "experts" after conducting the research they felt they needed to define exactly what they wanted for their family of 11 children.
They learned what works best for basic meals, what works in the Utah climate and what produces the best results for the least money.
They also learned how to be respectful of combustibles.
"We still shy away from kerosene products because of the combustion potential of some of the byproducts," Jones said. "The Sun Oven continues to be our favorite. It's a great tool every family should have and use. There's nothing to store and nothing to cause a fire."
The Joneses use their Sun Oven year-round and make every kind of meal with it.
They also rely heavily on Dutch oven meals, enjoying a variety of stews, desserts and even breads from their efforts using charcoal and the earth.
Because they teach others about fuels, they own a number of various commercial products and they educate people about their use -- both in person and through their Web site yourfamilyark.org, which is drawing 10,000 hits a month.
"Hopefully there's some wisdom out there," Jones said. "People who have questions can get advice and guidelines through their local fire department. There's no need to have a problem."
However, with any kind of fuel storage it's critically important to have a working carbon monoxide detector and smoke detector.
That can make all the difference, Jones said.
Propane is a great fuel and relatively safe but large amounts need to be far from living quarters and in some subdivisions, putting a tank away from one's home may put it too close to a neighbor's.
"We encourage people to be good neighbors," Jones said. "Check your local ordinances and again, with the local fire department."
Wood is easier and safer to store and versatile in an emergency, he said. An added plus: People with a wood stove or fireplace will be able to cook at the same time they create heat.
"Become educated before you jump in," Jones advised. "Incorporate it into your lifestyle, learn its limitations before you have to depend on it."
Once educated about the various options, keep informed and keep the stoves or equipment maintained, he said.
Rusted propane tanks can render the fuel useless and endanger those in proximity.
Dented or damaged fuel containers can leak.
Whatever the method chosen for emergency situation cooking and heating, Jones says it's important to experiment and practice using it.
"That can make all the difference," he said.
"We cannot stress enough the importance of using wisdom in your use and storage of fuels! Place the safety of your loved ones at the very top of your list. Be wise (don't do stupid things)! Never store any flammable or combustible fuel in any building that you can't afford to have burn down!" the Joneses said on their Web site.
Cooking and heating
Simple ovens:
• Apple box oven, made from a grocer’s cardboard apple box. Cover it with foil, cut notches in the bottom and raise it slightly to allow for air flow. Layer 10-14 coals on the ground or on a cookie sheet. Bake cookies, etc. on a rack inside the box that is set on fruit cans.
• Paper box oven, made from a box. Cover it with foil, cut notches and use like an apple box oven. Since it’s smaller, it requires fewer coals. A blanket cover will hold in heat.
• Dutch ovens are easy to use and store but need to be used outside.
Various “stoves”:
• The Sun Oven, available online and at selected outlets for around $250-$300. Easy, portable, safe and solar power is free.
• Butane stoves, lightweight, hard to operate in cold weather.
• Solar parabolic ovens, track the sun, more expensive than some options.
Heating sources:
• Wood-burning stoves (be aware of community air quality standards) need clean, dry wood and good ventilation.
• Portable generators, somewhat costly, need adequate fuel on hand to run for a length of time.
• Fuel gel, fuel cubes, MRE heaters, batteries and battery packs.
• Charcoal briquets, cheap, inexpensive (never use indoors).