Fourth of July celebrations can be a real bummer for families who just want to enjoy their barbecues outside, but end up dealing with an emergency when something, or someone, catches fire.
According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association released in May, more than 80 percent of grill fires are fueled by gas, as opposed to charcoal or other solid fuel. The leading cause to outdoor fires is from a leak or a break in the gas line, and failure to clean a grill after use. Other causes include setting up a grill near the house and other combustible materials and leaving a grill unattended.
Southampton and East Hampton town fire prevention standards and permits are modeled after the association’s guidelines and reports. Propane is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a clean-burning gas that releases 105 times less carbon monoxide than charcoal.
Ahead of July, which is often cited to be the month when most grill fires occur, the New York Propane Gas Association, a trade group, issued key tips for homeowners to enjoy their outdoor gas grills, portable fire pits and patio heaters without all of the fuss.
“This is a really popular time for people to be grilling,” NYPGA spokesperson Crystal DeStefano said in an interview. She noted that the Fourth of July is often the first time people bring out their grill for the season. And considering how busy and stressful the high-traffic holiday can be, they forget to examine their grill before firing it up.
“We want to make sure people take the time several days in advance to check out their grill before grilling—not the morning of—to check your equipment, make sure you have enough propane, and that there is no damage to the grill itself,” Ms. DeStefano said.
The group identified three areas that homeowners need to keep in mind when turning on the grill this summer: ventilation, ignition, and general maintenance.
Ventilation is important to allow the flow of air to a lit flame. Poor ventilation could build up gas or cause a forceful combustion. Lids should always be open when lighting the grill. Do not use foil to cover the bottom of the grill to contain heat or to use as a drip tray, because it will prevent proper air circulation. And grill at least 10 feet away from the house and 3 feet from trees and shrubs. Also, transport propane tanks with the valve closed or capped. Never keep tanks in vehicles for an extended period of time, and always store them in an upright position.
To check the hose that connects the tank to the grill, Ms. DeStefano recommended starting with a 50-50 mixture of dish soap and water. “Mix it together and then use the same brush that you would use to marinate before you grill, dab it all along the hose that connects your propane cylinder up to the grill, and then open the valve on the propane cylinder so that way when the gas is released into the hose, if there are any breaks in the hose you will start to see some bubbles,” she said. “It’s a quick, cheap, easy way to test that part of your equipment.”
If there is a break or a leak, she said to take the hose to a hardware store for a replacement. See a propane gas dealer or qualified repair person if the propane tank has a busted valve.
When lighting a propane grill, don’t use starter fluid. Try not to smoke while cooking, and keep all flammable materials away from the grill while in use. If the grill doesn’t ignite after 10 seconds, shut off the gas, keep the lid open and try again in five minutes. After multiple failed attempts, replace the igniter. Stay at the grill while cooking. When the grill is off and not hot, check the burner for blockages from insects or food grease.
“Look for that smell, that rotten egg smell that comes with the use of propane. It is not always apparent depending on when the leak started or how much has leaked into the air,” Ms. DeStefano said. “Propane is actually odorless on its own. So that rotten egg smell is added to every batch of propane that goes out for distribution.”
If homeowners do smell gas while cooking, shut off the gas if possible and call for emergency services. The same goes for any scalding or contact burns while cooking.
Just as in the kitchen, around sharp knives and hot stovetops, the grilling area is no place for children or pets to play in. About 35 percent of the number of hospital visits to tend to contact burns are for children who bump, touch or fell on a grill, according to the fire protection group.
NYPGA has offered propanekids.com, an interactive website by the Propane Education & Research Council, as a resource to help kids learn about gas grill safety.
“Grilling in general, you got to be really careful because you have a lit fuel source, and we never like to play with fire,” Ms. DeStefano said. “I find that teaching kids about propane safety and grill safety helps the adults, because I think that kids are sponges and they love to learn this stuff and they also like to have a sense of purpose. So, if you teach kids, say, the morning of the barbecue … if you give kids the education, they have a little bit of a role and can be fantastic grill police.”
on Jun 22, 2018