Prioritize Safety Every Time You Grill | SERVPRO® of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills
7/23/2020 (Permalink)
There is no better way to make the most of a summer day than cooking your dinner on the grill, but it is important to remember that this is an activity that involves an open flame and thus plenty of hazards. Though you may grill multiple times a week, it is important to always be vigilant about fire safety in the process.
Reports from the U.S. Fire Administration indicate that there are over 5,500 grill-related fire incidents every year, leading to millions in household damages. As with any fire safety lesson, the best strategy is simply doing what you can to prevent this from happening.
Being Vigilant About Fire Safety Every Time You Grill
Create a safe zone around your grill. You want your grill to be in a convenient location, but be sure you are still being safe about where you set it up. A minimum of a three-foot buffer around the grill is advised, as flare-ups can be quite large and ignite anything in their surroundings.
Clean your grill grates often. After using your grill each time, taking a few minutes to brush down the grates can make a big difference. The bits of food that get left behind can build up and become a fire hazard, especially if you are cooking meats with a lot of grease on them. These flare-ups can happen suddenly and be quite dangerous, so a prevention strategy is the best approach.
Never leave the grill unattended. If you need to take a break, get something from inside or otherwise take your attention off the grill, you should always designate someone else to attend it in your place. Even in a moment, a fire can start and begin causing damages. Always act as though this is possible and be sure your fire extinguisher is handy, too.
Inspect the grill regularly. Gas grills have several parts that can fail over time, meaning that regular inspection is key to avoid a serious fire. Gas lines that run the propane to the grill can fail with time, and if you do not check them, a leak can be disastrous when you go to light the grill.
If you have a grill fire do 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.