Grill Safely This Summer With Pro Tips - The Edwardsville Intelligencer

While Memorial Day weekend officially kicked off outdoor grilling season, it's important to follow basic safety tips and precautions any time of year.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more than 70% of homes have at least one outdoor grill or smoker. Gas grills contribute to more fires than charcoal grills.

The NFPA reports that 64% of homes own a gas grill. On average, a barbecue causes 10,200 house fires every year.

Each year, 19,000 patients with grill injuries come to the emergency room.

July is the peak month for barbecue incidents, followed by June, May and August. About half of all injuries from crickets are thermal burns.

"Cleaning the grill is one of the most important things you can do, especially cleaning the grease trap and making sure everything is working properly," said JC Fultz, the Office of the State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) public information officer. . . "If it's a gas grill, make sure there are no leaks in the plumbing.

"Also, place the grill far enough away from the house that the siding doesn't melt. Make sure the grill is clear of overhanging branches, railings and eaves.

When a barbecue fire gets out of control, pouring water on it might seem instinctive, but Fultz stressed that it wasn't the right decision.

"If a fire starts, don't use water to put it out because if you pour water on it, it will spread the grease all over the place and can cause bigger problems," Fultz said.

"We always emphasize the importance of a child and pet free zone around the grill, which is one meter wide. Children are curious and pets run around, and if you hit the grill, children or pets may get burned.

Fultz also emphasizes that a grill should not be left unattended, even for a short time.

"You can walk away for a few seconds and the next thing you know, the grease is all over the place and there's a big fire in the grill," Fultz said. "If this happens, turn off the grill and keep the lid closed and do not add water. If that grease is leaking out of the grill, you now have a bigger problem.

"If you can't control it, then you should call 911."

Philip Zaleski is now the executive director of the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.

Like Fultz, Zaleski said that one of the most common mistakes that leads to grilling accidents is improperly storing grills.

"Especially with grills, we find that a lot of people don't move them far enough from their homes," Zaleski said. "When they're stored, they're usually at the back of the house, near the vinyl or wood siding, and they need to be at least three feet from the house.

"Not only does this prevent the cladding from catching fire, it also keeps it away from your roof overhang. When we see this kind of incidents, the main cause is that people don't leave enough space between the grill and the house.

Zaleski added that outdoor fires involving pets and children often go hand in hand with not keeping an eye on the grill.

"Our organization has outreach programs for fire victims and we see a lot of incidents involving barbecues and campfires," Zaleski said.

While fire pits and campfires can add atmosphere to outdoor events, Zaleski noted that safety precautions should also be taken for them.

"A lot of the kids we see with outdoor fire burns are from fireplaces," Zaleski said. "It's not necessarily from the moment the fire rumbles, it's after. The coals burn without a flame and people walk barefoot and children may try to jump on them because they cannot see the flames.

"These embers take a while to cool, so once the fire is done we recommend keeping a bucket of water or a hose nearby and spraying with plenty of water to ensure the wood is really cool and no more burns.

Outdoor grilling and fire safety tips, courtesy of IFSA, include:

Tips to avoid burns outdoors:

• Supervise children and pets while the campfire is burning
• Create a three-foot "kid-free zone" around the campfire/bonfire
• Always keep a hose, bucket of water, or shovel of dirt or sand nearby to put out the fire.
• Apply water to any remaining coals or flames, making sure no heat, embers, or flame remains.
• Never leave the fire unattended, even for a short time.

Grilling Safety Tips:

• Closely monitor the cooking of grilled food.
• Immediately after cooking, turn off the grill and allow it to cool completely before returning it to its original location.
• Grills should be at least three feet away from anything that may burn, including deck rails, overhanging branches and houses.
• When using starting liquid to light coals, use only charcoal starting liquid; Never use other flammable liquids.

Tips for fireplaces and outdoor fires:

• Check with your local fire department or municipality for restrictions before starting an outdoor, recreational, or outdoor cooking fire.
• Where permitted, fires, such as campfires or yard waste fires, must be kept at least 50 feet away from anything that may be burning.
• Fire sites must be at least 25 feet from any structure that may be on fire
• Only use fire pits outdoors and at least 10 feet away from anything that may be burning.

For more information on outdoor fires and other fire safety and fire prevention information to keep your family and home safe, visit the IFSA website at www.IFSA.org .

Additional information is also available through the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office.

( https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/sfm/Pages/default.aspx ) and the National Fire Protection Association ( https://www.nfpa.org/ ).

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