Keep holiday barbecues safe from fire danger

Having family or friends over for an outdoor barbecue over the Fourth of July weekend? Take a moment to review how to do your outdoor cooking to avoid injury or property damage.

That’s the advice of Fire Marshal David Wheeler with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. Wheeler suggests some safety tips to reduce the chances of an outdoor cooking-related fire or injury.

“Make sure the barbecue is in a safe area away from children, pets and anything that can burn,” Wheeler recommends. “Store matches and lighters up and away from children and don’t be tempted to use outdoor cooking equipment indoors on a rainy day — not even in the garage. You may be overcome by carbon monoxide gas, resulting in injury and even death.”

Wheeler recommends that you take special care when using propane barbecues. Before lighting any propane fire, he suggests that you first check all gas line connections to make certain they are tight and properly secured.

“Carefully bend the grill’s flexible line and check it for cracks,” he stated. “Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.”

If you smell a gas odor around a propane tank, Wheeler advises that you immediately turn off the gas and do not attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed. If your propane grill uses a one to ten gallon cylinder, make sure the cylinder has an overfill protection device.

One final safety tip is one that nearly everyone has ignored — always light the match before you turn on the gas.

For charcoal grills, Wheeler has two major safety tips: Once a fire has been started, never add starter fluid. Fire may follow the stream of fluid back to the container, causing an explosion and scattering flaming liquid, he explained.

Another major problem with charcoal grills is disposing of the ashes.

“Ashes may contain hot embers that can start a fire if not disposed of properly,” Wheeler said. “Place ashes in a covered metal container and place the container outdoors away from anything that can burn.”

By following these tips, you will enjoy all the pleasures of cooking outdoors all summer long while protecting your family and property.