GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Passersby dialed 911 after seeing a shed catch fire near the intersection of 30 Road and D Road.
Witness to the explosion Eric Osiecki describes what he saw when the explosion happened.
"It looked like it was a shed that was on fire, and then we heard a couple of explosions."
Osiecki says the Grand Junction Fire Department was quick to respond and quick to knock down the fire.
"They (GJFD) had the fire out probably within about five minutes."
Public Information Officer for GJFD Dirk Clingman has this advice for homeowners as we enter a hot summer season.
"Household items that get stored in sheds, a lot of them can cause small explosions when involved in a fire."
One of those items is gasoline cans. Clingman says temperature control is the best way to prevent a fire.
"It's important to make sure that the shed is not raising to a temperature over 80 degrees to safely store gasoline."
Clingman says propane tanks should be stored outside, in the shade and standing upright.
And as the transition to battery power becomes more common, Clingman says mistakes in their storage do too.
"If you're using a lot of equipment that requires batteries, make sure that you're following the manufacturer's instructions to store them safely. Electric vehicles, electric motors, any of these things that require great big batteries... if there is a fire they can be very dangerous. So, it's always important to do your due diligence and make sure you're using products that are UL listed to make sure they are safe and that they have been tested."
Watching how you store anything explosive or flammable could save you a lot of time and trouble as summer temperatures start to soar.