Last year, there were 68 fires and explosions involving outdoor grills, resulting in four injuries to civilians, one firefighter injury and $321,291 in total property damage.
This home at 463 East St.,Easthamtpon, was heavily damaged in a fire July 6 that officials said was caused by a gas grill igniting an exterior wall.STOW - With the Memorial Day signaling the unofficial start to outdoor grilling season, state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan urged people to keep fire safety in mind while they are cooking their hot dogs and burgers.
“Start the summer off right,” Coan said. “This is the perfect time of year to inspect your gas grill for leaks and cracks, and to teach children to state 3 feet away from any grill.”
Two thirds of all grill fires occur between May and September, the prime months for outdoor cooking, he said.
Last year, there were 68 fires and explosions involving outdoor grills, resulting in four injuries to civilians, one firefighter injury and $321,291 in total property damage.
The bulk of that damage was to one home in Easthampton during a July 6 fire caused by heat from the patio grill igniting an adjacent exterior wall. The total damage tallied $282,000 in damage.
Also, a gas grill set an exterior wall to a Chicopee house on fire in March of last year, and that fire spread to a nearby car, causing a total of $12,000 in damage.
Coan said people with propane grills should check to make sure all connections are secure before starting it for the first time. Also any lines that appear to be cracked should be replaced immediately.
He also recommends that all grills — propane and charcoal — should be used outside.
Grills should also be placed at least 10 feet from the side of a home, and away from deck railings, out from under eaves and away from low-hanging tree branches, he said.
Pets and children should be kept away, the grill should be keep clean to keep grease and fat from building up, and no grill should be left unattended, he said.
People who use charcoal grills also need to be careful.
Only a suitable grill lighter fluid should be used, and not any other flammable liquid like gasoline, and it should not be applied after the fire is started. He said it is possible for flames to travel up the fluid stream if you spray into the fire.
Also used coals should be left alone until they cool and then disposed of inside a metal container with a lid, he said.