Summer means cook outs and barbeques! But unfortunately, if you don’t take precautions when using your grill, it could also mean fire. This summer, make sure to follow these grilling safety tips to keep your family safe and your food delicious!
1. Grill Outside
Even if you have a small grill, you should never grill indoors. Not only are they a major fire hazard, grills release carbon monoxide. This colorless, odorless gas can be deadly to you and your family. Keep your grill in a well ventilated area, away from flammable materials.
2. Keep Grill Away from Your Home
More than a quarter of home fires are caused by outdoor grills. You want to keep your grill 10 feet away from your home. This means that you should not be grilling in a garage or under any kind of awning. The flame of the grill can easily flare upwards when fat from cooking meat drips down.
3. Find a Flat, Level Surface
Make sure your grill is on a flat, level surface. Not only will this help with the cooking of your food, but it will also ensure your grill cannot be tipped over and cause a fire. Whether you use a charcoal of gas grill, it should be setup somewhere stable like a concrete pad.
4. Never Leave a Grill Unattended
Like all fires, never leave a lit grill unattended. Because of the high heat and open flame, grills can easily become a safety and fire hazard. If you must walk away from the grill, make sure there is another adult to supervise.
5. Make a Kid-Free Zone
Young children are especially susceptible to burns from contact with hot grills. To keep your kids safe, designate a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around not only the grill but wherever hot food from the grill is being carried.
6. Clean Your Grill After Use
If excess grease and fat from grilling are allowed to build up, they will provide more fuel for a fire. Grease is one of the biggest causes of flare ups in grills.
7. Keep a Spray Bottle on Hand
If you have a minor flare up from your grill, you can quickly douse it with a spray bottle of water. A great part of this is that the water will not harm your food! Because grills run so hot, the water will quickly evaporate before making your food wet or soggy.
8. Have a Fire Extinguisher Nearby
For larger flare ups or in case the grill starts a fire, you’ll need a fire extinguisher. You’ll also want to make sure you know how to use it. Don’t wait precious time trying to figure out the fire extinguisher before calling 911.