5 Grilling Safety Tips for Your Next Barbeque

It’s summertime, and that means it’s grillin’ time. Unfortunately, those gas and charcoal grills that help create the perfect steak also create an additional fire hazard. Each year, grills cause nearly 9,000 fires and result in 16,000 injuries—over half of which are burns.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), July is the peak month for grill fires, although incidents occur throughout the year. The leading causes of grill fires are also preventable, since most fires originate from failure to clean the grill, placing it too close to combustible sources, or leaving the grill unattended. And gas grills were involved in more than three times as many fires as charcoal or other solid-fueled grills.

Here are five easy tips to keep your grilling safe:

• Only use propane and charcoal grills outside, and keep them well away from siding, deck rails, and other combustible materials.
• Keep a three-foot “safe zone” around your grill, where kids and pets aren’t allowed.
• Maintain your grill. Clean all types of grills to remove grease that can start a fire, and check connections on propane grills to be sure they are leak-free.
• Open covers on gas grills before lighting, and with charcoal grills wait for coals to completely cool before disposing.
• Never leave a grill unattended while in use.

Following these tips will help ensure you have a safe—and delicious—summer grilling season.