SAFE OUTDOOR COOKING

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

Summer is a great time to enjoy cooking outdoors with your family and friends, but that means it’s also time to remind ourselves of fire safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), non-gas grills were involved in 1,300 home fires per year. That’s why they’ve offered the following tips for using outdoor grills or fire pits.

Starting Fires

• Always build a campfire downwind from the tent area. Clear vegetation and dig a pit before building your fire. 
• Place an outdoor grill six feet from your home on level ground.
• When using a charcoal grill, only use starter fluids designed for barbecue grills, never gasoline or other accelerants
• Store liquid fire starter  away from your tent and campfire, and only use dry kindling to freshen a campfire.
• Never add starter fluid to charcoal or kindling that is already on fire

Extinguishing Fires

• Fully extinguish fires before leaving a campsite or going to bed. Start by dousing the fire with water, then gently spread the ashes out to cool. Only leave a fire site once the ashes are cool to the touch
• Keep something on hand in case the fire spreads. A fire extinguisher is obviously the most effective tool, but a spray bottle of water or garden hose can work if you’re grilling in your yard. If you’re camping, a bucket of sand is a helpful tool to keep near a camp fire.
• Never empty used coals directly into a trash can. Designate a metal container (with a lid) just for the purpose of disposing of coal.

For more information on fire safety, follow the NFPA on Facebook and Twitter.