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Grilling Safety Tips to Prevent Fires | SERVPRO® of East San Antonio
12/30/2020 (Permalink)
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Gathering your family together for a meal you grilled yourself is one of the most enjoyable things about summertime, but it is important that you do not accidentally cause an emergency in the process. Though many of us grill every week, it is important to remember that they are still open flames, and thus present the potential for a fire to start.
The reports from the U.S. Fire Administration show just what a problem this can be—nearly 6,000 fires annually are due to grills, which can total millions in damage for those impacted. Practicing fire safety every time you light up the grill can dramatically lower the likelihood that you will ever be part of this statistic.
Create a safe zone around your grill. Having your grill be located in a convenient spot is ideal, but you want to be sure it is also a spot that is safe. Creating a safe zone of about three feet around the grill is recommended to keep your structures, people and pets safe in case of a flare-up.
Clean your grill grates often. The bits of stuck-on food on your grill grates do more than just make the cooking temperatures inconsistent—they can actually lead to a fire that quickly becomes out of control. Grease and other crumbs can ignite if they get hot enough, leading to a sudden flare-up. The good news is that a simple brush after each use of your grill can go a long way in preventing this.
Never leave the grill unattended. It is wise to never leave an open flame, even for just a moment, and grills are no different. Even if the lid is down, still be sure that you have someone take over for you if you need a break and be sure to keep a working fire extinguisher nearby just in case.
Inspect the grill regularly. The connectors that run between the propane tank and the grill can fail with time, which can lead to small gas leaks that turn into big fires. Inspecting the grill every time you use it is a good habit to get into so you can be certain that you do not have any unforeseen issues when a flame is introduced.
If you have a grill fire that does damage to your home, we are here to help. You can call us any time, day or night, to have a quick response from our restoration experts.