How To Avoid Fires While Grilling

7/26/2018 (Permalink)

Summer is here, and that means it is time for backyard grill outs! July is the top month for grill fires followed by May, June, and August. While flipping burgers and roasting hot dogs may seem simple, be sure to follow these tips to keep your party from burning out.

Keep the Grill Away From the House

While it may seem like a no brainer, lighting a grill inside your home can have disastrous consequences. Keep your grill out of the house (this includes kitchens, sunrooms, covered patios, and garages), and move it away from the house so that wayward flames do not ignite anything. Flare ups happen, so it is best to keep the grill away from anything flammable in order to avoid fire damage.

Keep it Clean

Failing to keep the grill clean was the leading cause of grill fires from 2011-2015. When you use your grill, fat and grease from your food will build up. Be sure to use a wire brush to scrape off any extra food that may have built up while you were cooking. Simply scraping the grill isn’t enough to ensure your safety; do a deep cleaning of your grill 2-3 times per year (or more if you use your grill often) and be sure to get all the nasty grease and build up out of all the nooks and crannies. In addition to helping prevent fires, keeping your grill clean is just plain hygiene! Nobody wants a burger with old fat stuck to it!

Never Leave the Grill Alone

This tip seems like another common-sense rule, but many properties catch fire because the grill was left unattended and was knocked over by kids or pets. Children under 5 accounted for about one third of contact-type burns. Keeping watch over the cooking area will help prevent your little ones from bumping into the grill or any hot equipment. Designate a grill master to keep watch over the grill and the area around it so that you catch any problems before they happen, and they can make sure the food is cooked to perfection.

Inspect Before You Grill

Propane grills are great for a backyard barbecue, but they also cause more fires than charcoal grills due to the more complicated equipment. Before you light the grill up, take a second to inspect your work station. Make sure the propane tank is connected to the grill correctly and that there are no leaks. A gas leak next to even the smallest flame can have huge consequences, so familiarize yourself with the way your grill works, and take care of the maintenance to keep it in working order.

Know What to do if a Fire Does Break Out

If a fire does break out, knowing what to do and acting quickly will keep everyone involved safe. Never use a squirt bottle to spray water on a grease fire. This can make the fire larger rather than putting it out, and small squirts of water are not likely to be enough to extinguish a fire anyway. Flour can also make things worse, so use baking soda, salt, or a fire extinguisher to combat flare ups. Keep a box of baking soda or a fire extinguisher where you can quickly and easily access it if a flame does get out of control.