Fire Safety for Barbecue Season

6/25/2021 (Permalink)

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So much about spring and summer months are wonderful. The air is warm, the days are long, and nature is putting on an absolute show.

And maybe one of the best reasons to love these months is the fact that they give us an excuse to spend long hours at the grill in the backyard.

Yes, the season of barbecue is upon us once again, and once again men and women all over the country are trying out new rubs and sauces in search of the perfect brat, steak or chicken recipe. But all this extra activity at the grill and around the fire pit brings with it an unfortunate rise in accidental home fires.

In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. So what can you do this barbecue season to avoid these kinds of incidents? Let’s look at a few things to take care of.

The grill. The grill presents the greatest risk for fire, because it combines a number of combustible elements. Make sure your grill is on stable ground and in good working condition, with no leaks of gas or grease. Never leave the grill going without your steady hand nearby (those patties are going to need a flip soon anyway). And don’t forget to give it a good cleaning! Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. When you congregate around the backyard fire pit, make sure you’re operating with extreme caution—it is, after all, a literal open flame. Keep a full bucket of water close, with which you can douse any errant flames or accidental ash spills. Use this same bucket to extinguish the fire at evening’s end, but do it slowly, so as not to create any flying embers. Speaking of embers, don’t add leaves, paper or pine needles to the fire, as they present a great risk of uncontrollable embers that put your property in danger. And of course, never leave the fire pit unattended or allow children or pets near without supervision.

Chimneys and dryer vents. A couple more things while we’re talking fire safety—now that you’re done with your fireplace for the time being, have it cleaned so you’re not setting your first fall fire in a giant tube full of ash and soot. And check your dryer’s pipe vent, because sometimes lint can sneak past your lint trap and create an easily combustible hazard in the vent.

Your local SERVPRO technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.