The aromas of summer BBQ’s are so close to being here, we can smell it. Almost nothing is better than the enjoyment of grilling steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs, and any other foods you can find. Although this rain has created some delays, the majority of us will jump at the first opportunity to pull out the grills and invite friends and family for the first cookout of the year. However, while it can be exciting and social, it can also be dangerous if you are not aware of the fire risks associated with BBQs. With over 9,000 property fires caused by grills each year, it is extremely important to be aware of all hazards avoid any personal injuries. Check out these fire safety steps that you can take to be properly prepared for your upcoming cookout:

BBQ Safety Tips During the Summer:

• Gas Leaks. One of the most common causes of fire damage and personal injuries during a cookout, a gas leak is extremely dangerous when if it comes into contact with a lit match or cigarette butt. To prepare your gas tank, apply a mixture of dish soap and water on all sides of the can. If you see any large bubbles form, it is a sign that there is either a leak or the hose is not tightly connected to the can.

• Grease is a natural byproduct of grilling food. It adds flavor to the meal as well as aroma to the backyard cookout experience. Unfortunately, it can also be difficult to clean as it can get everywhere and stick to the affected surfaces. But most dangerously, it can cause flare ups as they add extra fuel to the flames. Just be sure to clean all areas of the grill thoroughly before using it.
• Never bring a grill into the house. Grills were made to be outdoors. Because of the amount of flames that are produced, it releases a lot of smoke into the air. If this was released into your home, it can cause severe smoke damage that will need to be cleaned by a fire damage restoration Although it may seem like a no-brainer, the carbon monoxide it releases can also have serious health effects on you, your family, and pets.
• Keep the grill no less than 10 feet away from the house. This includes carports and garages because any overhangs and building structure can come into contact with the smoke. If the flames don’t reach the building structure, the smoke released will create a thick, black residue that will also need to be removed by a fire cleanup technician.
• Know your proteins. As some foods will be fattier than others, it is extremely important to know that the fat and marbling will add to the flames. The fattier meats typically include: pork, Porterhouses, T-Bones, Ribeyes, and some types of chicken, depending on where it came from. If you are not careful, these fatty foods can cause flare ups and cause serious burns.
• Keep the lid open when turning on the gas. When adding fuel to a flame, its natural reaction is to spread quickly and flare up, depending on the amount of gas that was added. But if the flames are not able to escape because the lid is closed, a giant fireball will burst out of the grill once it is open. This can cause severe 3^rd-degree burns or even cause a property fire. Just make sure to always keep the lid open when starting the grill.

Fire Damage Restoration

Although there are many steps you can take in order to prevent fire damage from a summer BBQ, accidents can still happen. When they do, it is imperative to call a professional fire and smoke damage restoration company immediately after an ambulance if anyone was injured. They guarantee to arrive right away to restore the damage from all building materials as well as contents with professional fire and smoke cleanup services.

Finally, while it is extremely important to practice these fire safety steps during a summer cookout, it is also essential to call the emergency restoration professionals when the unexpected does occur.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.