Grilling Safety

8/17/2020 (Permalink)

Has your wife said lately “it’s too hot to cook.” That means one of two things, either you’re going out to eat, or your doing the cooking on the grill. According to the NFPA there were more than 10,600 home fires that involved grills, hibachis or barbeques. (between 2014-2018) I would bet that number has risen since the COVID-19 crises just due to option 1 going out was not available, and 2 more people were home cooking.

Cooking with gas may be easier, but it did account for 84% of those fires. We’re going to take that to mean we need a higher level of safety when it comes to gas grilling. This video from the NFPA, shows how you can check for leaks in your gas grill.  Here are some other grill safety tips, they may sound like common sense but you know the only reason warning labels are put on products is because at some point somebody tried it and probably with devastating results.

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.  The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

 Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.

 Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.

 Never leave your grill unattended.

 Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before turning on the gas or lighting it.

There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.  If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.  Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources. There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord rated for outdoor use.  When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

Enjoy your summer holidays we hope that you never experience the trauma of a home fire, but if you do know that the experts of SERVPRO of West Forsyth County can help you make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us directly at 336-946-1131