Summer Grilling and Safety

7/20/2021 (Permalink)

Cooking on a grill in the summer, or anytime, can lead to major damage when not monitored properly.

Summer is the time for grilling and family gatherings. The smell of a perfectly cooked hamburger or steak can make your mouth water just thinking about it. But did you know, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are generally around 9,000 home grill fires per year? Resulting in approximately $118 million in property damage that requires fire restoration. 

Based on 2014-2018 annual averages:

• July is the peak month for grill fires (18%), including both structure, outdoor or unclassified fires, followed by June (15%), May (13%) and August (12%).
• The grill had not been cleaned in more than one-quarter (29%) of the home grill structure fires.
• The leading area of origin for structure fires involving grills was an exterior balcony or open porch, and 44 percent of the property damage from grill structure fires resulted from fires that started there.
• Five of every six grills involved in home fires were fueled by gas (84 percent), while 12 percent used charcoal or another solid fuel.
• Gas grills were involved in an average of 8,900 home fires per year.  Leaks or breaks were primarily a problem with gas grills.
• Charcoal or other solid-fueled grills were involved in 1,300 home fires per year.

Keep your home and family safe by following these safety tips:

• Keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your home
• Clean your grill regularly 
• Check your grill for gas leaks
• Keep a fire extinguisher with in a couple of steps of your grill
• Don’t leave your grill unattended 
• Don’t overload the grill with food 
• Never use a grill indoors

If you experience a grill fire, or any fire at your home, call the fire restoration leaders at SERVPRO of Mobile County and we will help you every step of the way. We are available 24/7 with just a quick phone call- 251-343-0534.