Fire Safety: Grilling and Campfires

Summertime should be a time of fun and making happy memories. Knowing a few fire safety tips and following safety instructions will help everyone have a safe summer.

The following safety tips are recommended by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Safety Tips for Grilling and Campfires:

1. Position the grill well away from siding, deck railing, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
2. Keep children and pets from the grill area: declare a 3-foot "safe zone" around the grill.
3. If you own a propane grill, check the cylinder hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will reveal escaping propane quickly by releasing bubbles.
4. Avoid using soft wood, such as pine or cedar, which likely will pop and throw sparks, in a fire pit. Use of seasoned hardwood is suggested.
5. Don’t build a campfire at a site in hazardous, dry conditions or if the campground, area, or event rules prohibit campfires.

Editor's Note: The injury statistic referenced in this article was supplied by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.