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How To Cook Outside Safely Without Starting a Fire
8/17/2022 (Permalink)
Nothing beats the smell of hamburgers and sausages sizzling in the backyard in the middle of July. What a great way to spend a summer day in Orange Park, FL. Amazing scents aside, it is important to remember the hazards associated with cooking over an open flame. Whenever you use fire, you face potential risks, and outdoor grilling is no different. Between 2014 and 2018, the National Fire Protection Agency estimated over 10,000 residential fires involved grills. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can reduce the risk of a grill fire.General Tips
When you cook outside, you have options. You can use a charcoal grill, a propane grill, or a fire pit. Each cooking method has its own safety tips to consider, but there are some general guidelines you should always follow to avoid a barbeque fire:- Only use outdoor grills outside
- Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away
- Clean up any grease spills
- Never leave a cooking fire unattended
Charcoal, Propane or Fire Pit Tips
For charcoal grills, you can reduce the risk of a grill fire by using a charcoal chimney starter that will allow you to start your grill with newspaper instead of starter fluid. If you choose to use starter fluid, only use charcoal starter fluid. For propane grills, make sure the gas tank hose is leak-free before you start using your grill. If you locate a leak, turn off the gas. Refrain from using your grill until you can get it serviced. For fire pits, place a metal screen above the burning wood to prevent sparks from jumping out.
Useful Phone Numbers To Have
No matter how careful you are, sometimes things can still go wrong. If you do experience a barbecue fire that leads to smoke damage or other problems, it can be helpful to seek out the assistance of fire damage remediation professionals.
Although cooking outside does present some fire risks, the good news is there are steps you can take to make it safer so you can spend your summer happily grilling instead of worrying about a grill fire.