Abstract: An appliance safety shield for gas-burning appliances to prevent heavier-than-air vapors from contacting a pilot light, the safety shield including a floor structure for mounting the safety shield thereon and a mounting strip mounted on the floor structure in generally fluid-tight connection therewith. The mounting strip extends circumferentially around the gas-burning appliance such that the mounting strip substantially completely surrounds the appliance. A generally flat, semi-rigid shield wall having a lower edge is mounted in the mounting strip in generally fluid-tight connection therewith such that the shield wall extends generally upright, the shield wall extending along the mounting strip such that the shield wall substantially completely surrounds the appliance. The shield wall, the mounting strip and the floor structure cooperate to restrict heavier-than-air vapor access to a gas-burning appliance whereby accidental ignition of flammable vapors is prevented.