Fire prevention: The dos and don’ts of summer fun

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Unintentional actions are the leading cause of outdoor fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

FOX 17 talked with an expert to learn about what community members should keep in mind this summer.

This comes as Clean Air Action Days continue this week with elevated levels of ozone in the air making things particularly uncomfortable for people with breathing problems.

"The best thing to do right now, if people are having difficulty breathing, they actually should stay indoors in air-conditioned areas," Michael McLeieer, president of E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety, said. "A mall may be a great place to go for a walk, or go to a restaurant, go to a movie theater."

READ MORE: West Michigan air quality

Humans cause 84% of wildfires— burning debris outside starts the most human-caused fires.

"A small spark, a small ember can become a very big fire in just a matter of moments, so you won't have time to go an get something. It's better to have a shovel, a fire extinguisher and also that water source readily available so that if that fire were to get out of control, you can immediately address that right then and there," McLeieer explained.

E.S.C.A.P.E. gave FOX 17 the following outdoor fire safety tips to keep in mind:

The Grand Rapids Fire Department says crews responded to two grill fires in 24 hours. Tips to keep in mind when grilling include:

READ MORE: Follow these tips to practice safe grilling this summer

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shared the following ways people can reduce the risk of their homes and property becoming fuel for a wildfire:

"We want to make sure we prevent fires from happening. Our firefighters are already busy enough and we need to make sure, again, we do what we can in our own homes and in our own neighborhoods to prevent that fire from happening," McLeieer said.Follow FOX 17: Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - YouTube