Grilling and fire pit safety tips to prevent fire damage this summer at your Nashville home

5/8/2015 (Permalink)

Grilling safety tips

As the weather gets warmer, we transition from spending all of our time bundled up inside, to spending every minute we can outdoors in the sun. We’re excited to finally trade the stove for a grill and the fireplace for a fire pit in the backyard. As we drag the summer appliances out and set up the backyard to get ready for the summer, we have to keep the proper safety precautions in mind to avoid fire damage. According to the National Fire Protection Association, every year grilling causes an average of 8,800 home fires.

Grill safety tips:

• There should be a 3-foot clearance surrounding the grill making sure that there are no kids or pets within this range
• Position the grill far away from home siding, deck railings, and out from underneath overhangs or branches
• Periodically remove grease buildup from the trays below the grill to prevent grease fires
• Make sure to buy the proper starter fluid for charcoal grills and never add the fluid once the grill has already been ignited
• If using a propane grill, check the propane cylinder hose for leaks each year to make sure that it is not leaking gas while cooking

Fire pit safety tips:

• Before lighting the fire, make sure that the lid can fit over top of the material inside of the pit in case of an emergency
• Keep a fire extinguisher or hose nearby
• Do not use flammable fluid to start or relight the fire
• Keep the fire pit well away from flammable materials and fluids
• Do not burn trash, leaves, paper or cardboard that could spark or send hot particles through the air 

Source - http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/outdoors/grilling