BBQ Safety Tips To Keep Your Summer Fun From Going Up In Flames

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — Food just tastes better when it's grilled outdoors, but there are a surprising number of hidden hazards that can come along with moving the cooking to the backyard. Fortunately, the Golden's Bridge Fire Department and Fire Chief Dennis Delborgo have a few must-follow safety tips to make sure the burgers are the only things getting cooked.

From the Golden's Bridge Fire Department

With the summer outdoor grilling season fully underway and everyone gearing up for the July 4th holiday – one of the biggest barbecue days of the year – now is the time to familiarize yourself with a checklist of practical maintenance and safety measures to make sure your barbecue, and your deck and house, don’t go up in flames, says Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief Dennis Delborgo. You can live with burning the hot dogs or overcooking a steak, he says, but there are ways to prevent turning your barbecue with family and friends into a fire or medical emergency.

“Memorial Day kicked off the summer barbecue season, and with Independence Day on the horizon, July is the peak month for outdoor grill fires. Thermal burns – burns to the skin from direct contact with hot surfaces and a naked flame – account for half of all injuries involving barbecue grills, according to the National Fire Protection Association,” Fire Chief Delborgo explained.

The Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief recommends spending a few minutes on the websites of fire organizations like the NFPA and government agencies – such as the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – to become familiar with prevention and safety tips and recommendations that could go a long way in helping to prevent accident, injury, and property damage.

The Golden’s Bridge Fire District covers the hamlet of Golden’s Bridge in the Town of Lewisboro and small swaths of Somers and North Salem, and also provides mutual aid to other fire departments. Fire Chief Delborgo provided some of the safety and prevention tips that can be found in greater detail on the websites of various agencies:

• Periodically apply a soap and water solution to the propane cylinder, hose, and all joints to detect leaks. If bubbles form (indicating a propane leak), consult with a service professional before using. “Also, never use gas cylinders that are damaged or past their use date,” cautions the Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief. “If in doubt, have it inspected at your fill station.”
• Never use a barbecue grill indoors (including basement or garage) – “it’s not only a fire hazard, but also can cause high levels of carbon monoxide,” Fire Chief Delborgo said.
• Position your grill away from your house siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves, overhanging tree branches and anything else that could catch fire.
• Always leave the lid open when firing up the grill – and minimize flare-ups by keeping grill racks and trays free of grease buildup – and always keep a fire extinguisher nearby, the fire chief said.
• Never leave a grill unattended – and keep children and pets a safe distance away.
• When barbecuing, wear fire-resistant mitts and use long grilling tools – this, says the Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief, will keep your hands as far away as possible from the heat and flames; he also cautioned not to wear long sleeves or baggy clothes that could catch on fire.
• If you smell gas while cooking, the Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief advises to attempt to turn off the grill, keep a safe distance, and call 9-1-1.
• When you are finished cooking, turn the propane tank to the off position.
• Change propane tanks in the open air, never in a confined space – and store spare cylinders outdoors away from the house, other structures and the barbecue grill itself, the Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief said.
• When using charcoal briquettes, the NFPA safety bulletin says charcoal lighter fluid can be used safely by following the directions found on the container.
• Never dispose of spent ashes in a garbage container or any type of garbage bag, but rather in a covered metal container – eventually dispersing them in ground dirt.

“Following this advice from the NFPA and other agencies will help keep your barbecues with family and friends safe and minimize accidents and medical emergencies,” said Fire Chief Delborgo, who recommends checking with the websites of these agencies for a full list of safety measures. “And a safe and happy July 4th to all of our residents,” he added.