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JBSA News
NEWS | July 27, 2012

Fire official urges common sense in using outdoor grill

By Robert Goetz Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Cooking outdoors on a charcoal or gas grill is one of the pleasures of summer, bringing enjoyment and tasty eating to family gatherings and parties, but it's also an activity that should not be taken for granted.

The Air Force Safety Center emphasizes the importance of safe barbecuing as one of its messages during the Critical Days of Summer campaign, which concludes Sept. 4.

Some of the possible consequences of not following safety rules include burns, scalds, soft tissue injuries, abrasions and cuts, according to the safety center.

James Smith, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Fire Emergency Services fire protection inspector, said barbecue safety starts with properly setting up the grill.

"Barbecue grills - both propane gas and charcoal - should only be used outdoors and placed on a hard, level, noncombustible surface, and at least 10 feet from combustibles," he said. "These include the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches."

Wearing proper clothing is also important, Smith advised.

"Be sure to wear shirts with long tight sleeves and possibly an apron, but definitely no loose-fitting clothes," he said. "People who have long hair might also want to put their hair up or have a hat on when manning the grill."

As far as manning the grill, Smith said staying vigilant, never leaving the grill unattended and maintaining a 3-foot safe zone around the grill if children are around are important rules to follow.

He also said to use only approved charcoal lighter fluid - not gasoline or kerosene - follow the manufacturer's instructions for each grill and always keep the lid up while lighting a propane grill.

"If not, the propane could be trapped inside the lid and, when lit, explode," Smith said.

Another potentially dangerous situation is using lighter fluid when the coals are already burning.

"When adding charcoal lighter fluid to the fire while it is still lit, the lighter fluid can flash back up into the container and explode in your hand and face," Smith said. "Always ensure you have the charcoal well-soaked beforehand so you will not run into that situation. A better way is to use the pre-treated charcoal that has the lighting agent already embedded into the briquettes."

Smith said it's vital to be prepared for emergencies.

"If you are using charcoal, it's a good idea to have the garden hose or a bucket of water on standby just in case," he said. "If the need were to arise to extinguish the fire, ensure you do not stand directly over it or directly next to the grill. As you add water, the steam from the hot coals could burn you just like the flames themselves."

To extinguish a propane grill fire, simply turn off the propane tank, Smith advised.

"Most of the time, this will extinguish the fire," he said. "If not, have a Class ABC fire extinguisher close by."

Above all, Smith said, common sense should guide actions in regard to the barbecue grill.

"As in all areas dealing with fire, common sense plays a big part," he said. "If it seems unsafe, it probably is and you should think about it beforehand. After a fire is not the time to think of things you should have done to prevent it."