Outdoor Cooking Safety

As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer months, Portland Fire & Rescue urges you to be fire safe when cooking outside. Reduce the chances of an outdoor cooking-related fire or injury by using the following safety tips:

• Use/keep the barbecue in a safe area away from children, pets, and anything that can burn.
• Store matches and lighters up and away from children.
• Never use outdoor cooking equipment inside – not even in the garage. You may be overcome by carbon monoxide gas, resulting in injury and death.

Take extra care when using gas grills:

• Check all gas line connections to make certain they are tight and properly secured. Carefully check the grill’s flexible line for cracks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing that can result in a leak.
• If you smell a gas odor around any device that uses propane, immediately turn off the gas and don’t use the device (e.g. BBQ, grill, heating unit, burner) 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.
• Always light the match before you turn on the gas.

Charcoal grills:

• Once  fire has been started, never add starter fluid. Fire can follow the stream of fluid back to the container, causing an explosion and scattering flaming liquid.
• Use caution disposing of ashes. Ashes may contain hot embers long after the visible fire is out which can start a fire if not disposed of properly. Place ashes in a covered metal container and put outdoors away from anything that can burn.

PORTLAND FIRE & RESCUE REMINDS YOU THAT Your Safety Is Your Responsibility

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May 27, 2010