As the grillmaster, the safety of the cookout is in your hands. Bring these tips to the table to prevent fires, burns, & other grilling accidents
We’re in the height of summer, which means the risk of fires is at an all time high. Add a grill to the equation, and things can get even hotter.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), annual averages from 2017-2021 showed that more grill fires happen in July than any other month.
So, before you start cooking up a storm, brush up on your grill safety with the following guide to keep your cookouts free of fires and other safety hazards. To start, we’ll share some general grilling safety tips, and then go into preventive measures specifically for gas and charcoal grills.
General Grilling Safety Tips
The first step to ensuring an accident-free cookout is setting up in the right spot. You never want to grill indoors, and you don’t want your grill too close to your house, overhanging structures, deck railings, or trees, as even a small flare up can catch on these surfaces and quickly turn into a blaze. So, make sure to set up your grill far away from anything that could catch fire and any areas with frequent foot traffic.
Next, don’t forget to clean your grill before or after every use, and check if it’s good to go before firing it up. If not, brush the grates to remove caked on residue and get rid of any leftover grease and fat from the drip pans.
Lastly, so long as the grill is hot, don’t let kids or pets within three feet of it, and never leave your post. An unattended grill is a recipe for burns, fires, and, worst of all, overcooked food.
Gas Grilling Safety Tips
If it’s been a couple months since you last checked, it’s crucial to test your gas tank for leaks before getting started.
To do this, create a small solution of dish soap and water and apply it to the length of the hose (including the connection points at the tank and grill) using a brush or spray bottle. Then, open the tank valve to release the flow of gas, and look closely for any bubbles.
If there’s any bubbling at the connection points, turn the valve back off, tighten the hose at each point, and repeat the process. If that fixes the leak, then you’re in the clear.
If the leak continues or gas is escaping at a point along the hose, you’ll need to put your grill session on hold until you can replace it.
When you’re ready to get grilling, follow the steps below in order, as recommended by the NFPA:
- Open the lid before turning the gas on
- Open the propane tank valve
- Turn the grill knobs to the desired setting
- If your grill has one, hit the ignition switch
If the grill doesn’t ignite, don’t try to get it going with a lighter right away. Since you just turned the gas on, it hasn’t had a chance to dissipate yet, so going in with a lighter could cause a dangerous flash fire. Instead, the NFPA recommends waiting five minutes for the gas to disperse before lighting it manually.
If you smell gas while cooking, stop what you’re doing and get everyone—including yourself—far away from the grill. Don’t try to resolve the issue by closing the lid, turning the gas off, or moving the grill. Step away, call the fire department immediately, and let them handle it.
When you’re done cooking, you’d think the first step would be to turn the knobs off. However, NFPA guidelines suggest shutting the gas off first, then turning the burners off. This is to prevent any excess gas from leaking out.
Charcoal Grilling Safety Tips
Depending on the supplies you have at your disposal, your startup process can look a few different ways.
If you’re lighting the coals directly, be sure to use a match or grill lighter to avoid burning your hand when igniting the kindling. If you’re using lighter fluid, don’t use anything other than charcoal starter fluid, and avoid using it once the fire is lit to prevent flare-ups.
When using a chimney starter, never place it directly on concrete, as it can cause an explosion. A good alternative is to remove the food grate and place the starter on the charcoal grate to heat your coals safely. Once they’re hot, be sure to wear protective gloves when transferring them to the grill.
Finally, if you have an electric starter, you’ll likely need an extension cord to reach the grill if you’ve set it up a safe distance from any flammable structures. Just be careful never to leave the starter unattended once it’s heating the coals. Also, don’t leave it in for any longer than the instruction manual states to avoid damaging the equipment or causing an explosion.
While cooking, keep all other heat sources away from the hot coals. Once you’ve prepared your feast, don’t throw the coals away until they’ve completely cooled off. And make sure the container you use to dispose of them is made of metal.
Dispatch Firefighters to Your Location in Seconds
According to Ready.gov, a small flame can turn into a major fire in as little as thirty seconds, and it only takes a few minutes for a house to become fully engulfed in flames.
If a grilling safety issue turns into a full-on blaze, you don’t have a single second to waste. That’s why the Rescu app should be a core part of your grilling safety plan.
With just two taps on your smartphone or Apple Watch, Rescu allows you to dispatch firefighters to your current location anywhere in the US within seconds. This system relies on state-of-the-art GPS technology and a 24/7 subscriber-dedicated monitoring center to bring you response times 20x faster than 911.
It works so well because it not only lets you skip the usual emergency phone call that takes up precious time, but also eliminates the risk of delays that leaves so many 911 users waiting far too long for the help they need, or worse, without help at all.
Of course, if you need to speak to a dispatcher, you’ll always have the option to do so after you’ve sent an alert. But above all, Rescu prioritizes sending help first to minimize injuries and property damage, saving time and lives in the process.
With Labor Day on the horizon, this grilling safety guide, coupled with Rescu’s best-in-class response times, will give you the tools and peace of mind to have a hazard-free cookout worth remembering.
Use the buttons below to get started with Rescu today!
