Grilling & Campfire Summer Safety

6/3/2020 (Permalink)

Keep safety in mind this summer to avoid fires.

June and July are the peak months for grill fires at 15% and 18% respectively. The origin points for these fires stem mostly from grills that have not been cleaned and leaks from gas grills. Seven out of every 10 households have a grill or smoker! That means lots of yummy meals, but also an increased number of fires each grilling season.

Here are some tips to keep you and your home safe this season.

• Only use outside away from railings and out from under awnings.
• Keep grill and trays clean of build-up from grease and fat.
• Keep lighter fluid away from children.
• Never leave grill unattended.

Keep up with regular cleaning and give your grill full attention to make sure your backyard cookout this summer is safe and fun!

Along with grilling, roasting s'mores over a campfire is a summer staple. However, campfire accidents send thousands of people to emergency rooms with burns every year! 90% of wildfires in the United States are caused by people, according to the U.S. Department of Interior. Many human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended.

Follow these simple guidelines to keep yourself, structures, and the forests safe from harm this summer.

• Attend to the campfire at all times and keep small. A campfire left alone for only a few minutes can grow into a damaging fire.
• Keep water on hand in order to douse if fire becomes too large or before leaving the site of the fire.
• Keep campfires 25 feet away from buildings and structures.
• Clear all dry leaves and overhanging, low branches.

If sing-a-longs, stories, and s'mores are on your agenda this summer, keep these tips in mind and toast those marshmallows responsibly.

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Links:

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Seasonal-fire-causes/Grilling

https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Safety-tip-sheets/Canada/CanadaCampFireSafety.ashx