The Summer Season

6/26/2020 (Permalink)

BBQ with Plenty of Room

Summer is “fun in the sun”. Summer is friends and family gatherings and celebrations. Summer is fireworks, parades, car shows and barbecues. While having a wonderful time and creating some fond memories, we all need to be aware of a danger that can wipe away all the fun and joy summer barbecuing can bring. Along with all the festivities, sadly there are plenty of statics that cause concern and draws attention to some facts of neglect. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2014-2018, grills, hibachis or barbecues were involved in an average of 10,600 home fires per year, including an average of 4,900 structure fires and 5,700 outside or unclassified fires. These fires caused annual averages of 10 civilian deaths, 160 reported civilian injuries, and $149 million in direct property damage. July is the peak month for grill fires (18%), including both structure, outdoor or unclassified fires, followed by June (15%), May (13%) and August (12%). Five of every six grills involved in home fires were fueled by gas (84 percent), while 12 percent used charcoal or another solid fuel and sixty-one percent of all households own a gas grill. Another fact that can steal the joys of summer is visits to emergency room. Also according to NFPA, an average of 19700 individuals visits the ER per year from injuries involving grills, including 9500 for thermal burns.

There is nothing like outdoor grilling. It is one of the most popular ways to cook today. So how can we have a fun, safe and memory making summer while grilling up some tasty foods? Follow these simple tips, provided by NFPA, and you will be on the way to safe grilling and tasty eats. First off, if you have not used your grill for awhile, check the tank hose for cracks. You can also apply a light soap/water solution to the hose. If you see bubbles, there is a leak and do not use. BBQ grills should only be used outdoors and the grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area and never leave your grill unattended. Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it and when you are finished, please allow a cool down of your grill before place the cover on it or move it back to its place.

For Charcoal grills, there are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel and if you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire. Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources. There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use. When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

 We here at SERVPRO hope this information is helpful. Be smart, be cautious and be proactive this and every season. Enjoy your family your friends. Make wonderful memories and have a blast doing so. Happy Summer 2020.