Grill Safely All Summer Long | SERVPRO® of Shippensburg/Perry County

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

Grill Safely All Summer Long | SERVPRO® of Shippensburg/Perry County (717) 300-3347

Summertime is a great season to take advantage of extra daylight and cook your dinners outside over the grill. While we love a good cookout as much as anyone, with the rise of grill fires in the summer, we also want to caution everyone to remember fire safety basics every time they go to start their own backyard barbecue.

Grill fires happen the most in the summer months, and it is estimated that over 5,500 occur every year, according to reports from the U.S. Fire Administration. Safety and prevention can go a long way in stopping fires, so let these tips be your guide all summer long.

Remember Fire Safety Basics Every Time You Grill

Create a safe zone around your grill. While convenience is likely top of mind when you are placing your grill in the yard, do not forget to consider how safety factors in, too. A three-foot barrier of empty space around your grill is recommended—this means there should be nothing flammable near your grill just in case a flare-up occurs.

Clean your grill grates often. As pieces of food are allowed to accumulate on the grates of the grill, they can cake on over time and become quite dangerous—especially if they are particularly greasy. By scraping down your grill grates after each use, you can prevent caked-on food from becoming a fire hazard and keep your cooking temps consistent, too!

Never leave the grill unattended. If a fire were to start and you (and your fire extinguisher) are nearby, you can put it out before it causes damage in many cases. However, if the grill is unattended, a disaster can quickly occur. Even if you are just taking a short break, be sure there is someone around to keep an eye on the grill at all times when it is lit.

Inspect the grill regularly. Check your grill before every use just in case there is the potential for a gas leak. Over time, propane tanks, valves and hoses can all wear down, and if there is gas leaking into the air when an open flame is introduced, there can be a serious problem. A simple visual check can go a long way in preventing this unpleasant surprise.

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.