Grand Rapids Fire Department offers grilling safety information

In 2014, 16,600 patients throughout the United States went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills.

• Grill fires occur most often (17 percent) in July and include structure, outdoor or unclassified fires. May, June and August also are peak months for grill fires.
• A failure to clean the grill is the leading factor contributing to fire in 19 percent of all grill structure fires. Something catching fire because it was too close to the grill followed at 17 percent.
• Leaks or breaks were the factor in 11 percent of grill structure fires and 23 percent of outside and unclassified grill fires.
• Gas grills contribute to a higher number of home fires overall than their charcoal counterparts.

Safety tips include:

• Never transport a Liquid Petroleum Gas fuel tank larger than 2 ½ pounds through a structure.
• 20 pound LPG tanks are prohibited by code to be transported through Multi-Family Residential Structures.

Open‐Flame Cooking Devices

Charcoal burners and other open‐flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction.

Exceptions:

1. One‐ and two‐family dwellings.
2. Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
3. LP – gas cooking devices having an LP‐gas container with a capacity not greater than 2 ½ pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454kg) LP‐gas capacity].

Liquefied Petroleum Cylinders on Exterior Balconies

Cylinders having water capacities greater than 2.7 lb (1 kg) [nominal 1 lb (0.5 kg0 LP‐Gas capacity] shall not be located on decks or balconies of dwellings of two or more living units above the first floor unless they are serviced by exterior stairways.

• Keep a 3-foot Safe zone around your Grill, make sure all connections and hoses are in good repair and not leaking prior to use.
• Open your gas grill prior to lighting.
• Never leave any grill unattended while it is in operation, guard against unwanted contact from pets and children.
• Clean your grill after each use, this will remove grease accumulation that can start a fire. Make sure any grease traps in your appliance are also cleaned periodically.
• Discard coals from your grill in a metal can with a lid once they have cooled. The container should be placed away from combustible / flammable materials.

Visit www.grfire.org for more information regarding your Grand Rapids Fire Department.