A sure sign of summer is the smoke and smell of burgers and dogs grillin’ on an outdoor grill.
But with firing up that outdoor grill, whether charcoal or propane, comes the chance of related fires, property damage, injury and even death.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that in 2003-2006, US Fire Departments responded to an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or barbecues per year. These 7,900 fires caused an annual average of 10 deaths, 120 reported injuries, and $80 million in property damage.
According to the Travelers Claim department, the most frequent contributing factor is that grills are located too close to combustible materials and/or construction.
The best way to prevent these types of incidents are to:
- Do not grill on any balcony
- Do not grill on any underhanging portion
- Do not grill within 10 feet of any building or structure
Grills can also cause burns, carbon monoxide poisoning and other injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), CO poisoning from charcoal grills caused annually
- 400 emergency room visits
- 20 deaths
- 20 injuries
Five additional safety tips include:
- Never leave your grill unattended
- Only use charcoal starter fluid
- Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the grill area
- Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup
- When finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container
July is the peak month for grill fires and roughly half the injuries are thermal burns.
Keep you and your family safe and your home protected this summer by following these grilling safety tips.
Happy grillin’ from the staff at Barr’s Insurance.
Cheryl Pastor, Social Media Specialist
Resources: Travelers Insurance and NFPA
