Avoiding a Grill Fire This Grilling Season

10/24/2021 (Permalink)

Avoid the grills risky fires in your Rocky Mount, NC home.

Grills are the most valuable outdoor cooking tools, but they can also present safety risks for the unsuspecting griller. A grill fire is often contained to the tool, but depending on how the device is situated, it can result in more extensive and more significant blazes. Before you delve into prime grilling season, contact your local fire department or a fire remediation specialist in Rocky Mount, NC, for some safety tips and techniques.

4 Ways To Reduce the Risks of a Grill Fire

Technically, a barbeque fire is necessary for some types of grilling, but the goal is to use a controlled fire or controlled heat to allow for proper cooking. Unfortunately, because of the nature of grilling, the risks of a dangerous fire are always a possibility.

Keeping your family safe while making outdoor memories is crucial to any head of household. Therefore, before you fire up your grill for tonight's family gathering, remember the top four ways to reduce fire risks while grilling.

1. Use Outdoors

Grills are not indoor appliances. The only safe place to use a grill is outdoors, which does not include the garage. You want to give your grill space, allowing heat to permeate the air without risking sparking a fire.

Whether you use gas or charcoal, the risks of fire rise exponentially when you bring the tool indoors. If you do not feel like grilling in the rain, use your stovetop or a griddle instead. Devices designed for indoor use typically have built-in safety features to protect against accidental fires.

2. Keep Away From Structures

Aside from the risks of smoke damage, you want to keep grills several feet away from structures. There should always be enough room around a grill to allow for heat to disperse adequately.

Putting a grill next to your house can melt your siding or cause dry wooden structures to ignite. Maintain manufacturer-recommended distances to minimize fire hazard risks.

3. Check for Leaks

Before you ignite a gas grill, you need to check for leaks. You can check for leaks by using a mixture of dish soap and water. Mix a little dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Open the valve on the propane tank to your grill. Sprits the hose at the connection points with the water solution. If you notice bubbles, you have a leak, and you need to address it before igniting your grill.

4. Never Leave the Grill Unattended

Family gatherings are full of distractions. Most people will walk away from the grill at some point while food is cooking; this is a mistake. Do not leave the grill unattended. You need to be present in case something goes awry. Additionally, staying near the grill ensures that no curious youngsters burn or injure themselves.

A grill fire is potentially dangerous and fast-moving. If you wish to keep your family safe while grilling, you will need to adhere to some basic rules, including the four mentioned above. The two most important rules are only to use the grill outside and never to leave the grill unattended.