Summertime Fire Safety Tips

Nothing says summertime in the United States like celebrating the warm sunshine and Labor Day with a good old traditional family BBQ. The end-of-summer holiday is honored by nearly 40% of Americans with grilled hotdogs, hamburgers, ribs, and chicken leading to roughly 9,000 property fires caused by barbecues, according to the National Fire Protection Association. But before you heat up your grill and get to barbecuing, be sure to follow these summer fire safety tips to easily prevent property fires.

• Propane, gas, or charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors

  • As an ultimate rule of thumb, you should store and cook on your BBQ outside. Grilling inside can release carbon monoxide, a toxic flammable gas, into the air which can be deadly for your friends, family, or pets to inhale. Outdoor grills are not insulated like your standard indoor oven, meaning it is going to produce a large amount of heat and smoke. If this heat and smoke were to be released into your home, it can cause severe smoke damage or a fire hazard that would require immediate fire damage restoration. Furthermore, it’s critical to be cautious of the placement of your outdoor grill because placing it too close to a building or railing is a fire hazard. We suggest keeping your barbeque roughly 10 feet away from any type of structure because the farther away, the better.

• Keep your grill clean by removing grease buildup

  • Grease is a natural byproduct of grilling and it absolutely adds both flavor and aroma in the air to add to the barbecue experience. However, when you add fuel to your grill and there is a grease on it, you can cause the fire to flare up. While it can be difficult to clean, statistics show that roughly 30% of home grill structure fires had not been cleaned in more than three months. By cleaning your grill you are preventing a fire at your home.

• Always check for gas leaks

  • Five of every six grills involved in home fires were fueled by gas (84 percent), while 12 percent used charcoal or another solid fuel. The primary problem with gas grills is leaks or breaks in the gas line. The truth is, unlike your standard oven gas valve, gas lines for barbecues are relatively inexpensive and are likely to wear down as you remove the line to replace the gas tank. A gas leak is extremely dangerous when it comes into contact with a lit match, cigarette butt, or any other form of fire. To check your gas tank for leaks, apply a mixture of dish soap and water on all sides of the can. If you see any large bubbles form, it is a sign that there is either a leak or the hose is not tightly connected to the can. When turning off your grill, make sure to turn the gas tank off first, then turn off the grill burners to ensure no gas is leaking into the air.

• Never leave your grill unattended - but be conscious of what you’re cooking inside

  • When fires start, they spread quickly. Many grillers will throw their food on the grill and occupy themselves with something else, such as cooking on the indoor stove, only checking on their grill periodically. This is a frequent mistake made because fires are known to double with every minute. It is best to keep an adult near the grill at all times in case of an emergency so you can extinguish a fire if it happens.

While there are many steps you can take to prevent a fire caused by barbequing, accidents happen every year. If you do cause a barbecue led fire, it is imperative to contact a professional fire and smoke damage restoration company in order to mitigate smoke damage and restore your home. Giuliani Construction & Restoration, Inc. in the Greater Bay Area provides specialized equipment and resources for fire damage cleanups and repairs. As a quick responding emergency service provider, we are able to assist with temporary board up, fencing, electrical, removal of burned areas, soda blasting/soot removal, and property deodorization to bring your property back to pre-loss condition. We would love to share our experience, expertise and knowledge with you. We get the job done right the first time, on time, with customer satisfaction. Call (883)-3DRYOUT or email workorders@giulianiconstruction.com and we will promptly respond with a quote.