It’s Cookout Season – Please be safe when using your grill!

Each year Fire Departments respond to emergencies where someone has been injured by a hot grill or a structure fire has occurred as a result of grill use. Here are some fire facts regarding grills from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), brought to you by the Sycamore Fire Department.

Three out of five households own a gas grill, which translates to a lot of tasty meals. But it also means there’s an increased risk of home fires. Each year an average of 8,800 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. While nearly half of the people who grill do it year-round, July is the peak month for grill fires followed by May, June and August.

Grilling by the numbers

• In 2012, 16,900 patients went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills.
• One of every six (16%) home structure fires in which grills were involved in ignition, something that could catch fire was too close to the grill.
• Overall, leaks or breaks were factors in one of every five reported grill fires.
• Gas grills contribute to a higher number of home fires overall than their charcoal counterparts.

Safety tips

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors, never indoors.
• Keep, matches, lighters, and starter fluid out of the reach of children in a locked drawer or cabinet.
• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Use long barbeque mitts and long-handled grilling tools to protect the chef from heat and burns
• Keep children and pets 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.

Charcoal grills

• 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 an active fire.
• Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
• Do not use a charcoal grill on a combustible surface such as a wood deck. Propane grills
• Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.
• If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.

For more information on this topic, please contact James Ward, Sycamore Fire Department Fire Prevention Coordinator at 815-895-4514.