Barbecuing is a quintessential summer activity, but firing up that outdoor grill warrants a safety check. Arlington fire officials say calls for grill fires and burn injuries spike in the warmer months. Nationwide, about 22,000 people end up in the ER every year with injuries involving grills, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Gas grills cause the most fires—about 9,000 annually—accounting for 84% of grill-related fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.“Make sure you’re grilling responsibly, paying attention to the grill, and paying attention to guests, children and pets,” says Gregg Karl, Captain of the Arlington County Fire Department. “Don’t leave any open flame cooking device unattended when there are people around because things can happen quickly.” Here are a few tips from the ACFD to make your grilling season a safe and delicious one:
Position your grill in a safe location.
- Only use grills outdoors.
- Keep grills at least 5-10 feet from the house, deck railings and anything that can burn.
- Keep combustibles away from the heat. (We’re looking at you, cooking spray.)
- Make sure there’s nothing above the grill that could burn, such as tree branches, tents, awnings or overhangs.
- Don’t use your grill on a covered patio.
- If you live in a high-rise, never put your grill on your balcony. This is against county fire code.
Prep your grill properly.
- Make sure your grill is clean.
- Take the grates off and look under all the heat deflector shields.
- Clear out grease traps at the bottom of propane grills.
- Check your tank to make sure there are no leaks.
- Check all hoses to make sure there are no cracks and all connections are secure.
- Check for critters that may have taken up residence in your grill over the winter.
Light it cautiously and correctly.
- If using a propane grill, make sure the lid is open; otherwise the gas could create an explosion.
- If using a charcoal grill, make sure you are using charcoal starter fluid–not any other kind of flammable liquid.
- Put your starter fluid on before lighting only. Once the grill is lit, do not add any more starter fluid. The flame can travel back to the can and many people are burned this way.
- Keep the starter fluid can away from hot grills.
- Keep the starter fluid out of reach of children.
Pay attention and use proper tools.
- Never leave your grill unattended.
- Keep pets and children at least three feet away from the grill.
- Use grilling utensils. They are longer to prevent burns from sudden flare-ups. Never put your hands over a grill.
Cool it down and clean it up.
- If using a charcoal or wood grill, make sure the ashes are completely cool before disposal.
- Dispose of coal or ashes in a metal container, never a cardboard box. Even if coal feels cool, it can still be hot inside and able to ignite.
- Never pour water on hot coals. You could be burned by the steam. Children and pets could be burned by standing hot water.
Teach your kids about grilling safety.
- Make sure children are always under adult supervision.
- Remind children the grill is not a toy. (“If you’re going to be toasting marshmallows or making s’mores, make sure you have the proper tools and equipment to do that,” says the fire chief.)
- Don’t let kids stand on chairs (or anything that could tip over) to reach the fire.
If your grill catches fire:
- Call 911. The ACFD has tactics for handling propane barbecue fires and securing a fire-involved propane tank, so don’t be afraid to call. “I would rather come and we take care of it, than having somebody get injured,” Karl says.
- Give emergency dispatchers a detailed report of what is going on. (Is your tree, deck or house also on fire? Tell them!)
- Back everybody away until the fire department arrives.
- Do not throw water on it—this can aerosolize the grease and cause a fire ball.
- If you can turn off the burners safely, do so.
- Baking soda, sand or kosher salt can be used to smother a fire.
Sometimes it is best to let a propane fire burn, Karl says. Propane tanks have a safety relief valve which can be activated by the heat of the fire. The valve lets propane out of the tank so that it doesn’t explode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_e1QYjg84Q
The safety-valve let-off may also catch on fire, as seen in the video above, but throwing water on the fire could block the valve and risk a tank explosion. Once the pressure is released, the valve will close on its own.
Note: Even if you are able to put the fire out, your propane tank could have invisible damage and be leaking gas that can travel and ignite at other heat sources around the yard, such as candles, tiki torches or cigarettes. After a fire, trained fire professionals can assess your tank for damage to make sure there are no propane leaks. Be sure to replace any fire-damaged parts before grilling again.