Fire Department

With warmer temperatures on tap this weekend, many will be inspired to light up the grill. Before doing so, it’s important to review these safety tips:

• Keep your grill at least 10 feet from buildings, decks, trees, and other structures or materials that can burn.
• Grills may only be used on balconies that are protected by an automatic fire sprinkler.
• Stay near your grill at all times while in use. Never leave your cooking unattended.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it in case you need to.
• Make sure charcoal and ashes are thoroughly cooled before placing them in the trash. This can take up to 72 hours after grilling. Dispose of the coals and ashes in a metal container.

If pulling a gas grill out of storage, check the tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage such as insects, grease, or other debris. Also check grill hoses and fittings for cracking, brittleness, holes, scratches, or leaks and replace as necessary. If you detect or suspect a gas leak, immediately turn off the gas and don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak has been fixed.

For a comprehensive list of grilling safety tips, review our Grill Guidelines.