Grilling this weekend? Officials offer safety tips
Before you fire up the grill, fire officials want to remind you it’s all fun and games until someone burns down the house.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,200 fires annually that involved grills, hibachis or barbecues. Approximately 3,400 grill fires ignited a structure, and 85 percent of grill fires involve gas grills.
The fires caused an annual average of 15 deaths, 120 injuries and $75 million in property damage. Approximately 30 percent of the home structure fires involving grills started on a courtyard, terrace or patio.
“People need to keep the grill away from combustibles, and don’t grill right next to the house,” Corning Fire Chief John Tighe said. “The most important thing is to check the grill occasionally, especially the hose that goes from the tank to the burners.”
Also, it’s important to be wary of children. Children account for nearly 25 percent of grill burns, according to
officials.
“When gatherings involve children, it’s critical that a child-free zone of at least three feet is established around the grill,” Firemen’s Association of the State of New York President David Jacobowitz said.
Fire officials offered numerous tips to ensure a safe grilling experience.
Before barbecuing:
• Check your grill thoroughly for leaks, cracking or brittleness.
• Check the tubes leading to the burner regularly for blockages. Check your specific grill manufacturer’s instructions.
• Make sure the grill is at least 10 feet away from the house, garage or trees.
• Store and use your grill on a large flat surface that cannot burn.
• Don’t use grills in a garage, on a porch, deck or on top of anything that can catch on fire. Never use a propane barbecue grill on a balcony, terrace or roof.
• Before getting a propane cylinder filled, check it for damage.
• Never transport or store propane cylinders in the trunk of a car.
• When lighting your propane barbecue, make sure all the connections are secure, open the lid and strike the match or lighter before turning on the gas.
During barbecuing:
• Keep children away from the grill.
• Don’t wear loose clothing that might catch fire.
• Use long-handled barbecue tools and/or flame-resistant mitts.
• Never use any flammable liquid other than a barbecue starter fluid to start or freshen a fire.
• Never pour or squirt starter fluid onto an open flame. The flame can easily flash back along the fluid’s path to the container in your hands.
• Keep alcoholic beverages away from the grill; they are flammable.
• Never leave the grill unattended.
After barbecuing:
• Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning and storing instructions.
• Keep your grill clean and free of grease buildup.
• Never store liquid or pressurized fuels inside your home or near any possible source of flames.
• Always shut off the propane fuel at the grill and at the bottle after you have finished barbecuing. Otherwise, this will lead to fire hazards, such as leaks and faulty regulators.
• Store your grill and propane cylinder outdoors.
In case of fire:
• For propane grills, turn off the burners. For charcoal grills, close the grill lid. Disconnect the power to electric grills.
• For propane grills, if you can safely reach the tank valve, shut it off.
• If the fire involves the tank, leave it alone, evacuate the area and call the fire department.
• If there is any type of fire that either threatens your personal safety or endangers property, always call the fire department.
• Never attempt to extinguish a grease fire with water. It will only cause the flames to flare up. Use an approved portable fire extinguisher.