HONOLULU (KHON2) — Grilling is a fun way to cook outside in Hawaiʻi, but it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. And with the 4th of July quickly approaching during our dryer season, it’s really import that you know how to be safe with fire.
Every year, thousands of people go to the emergency room because of grilling injuries.
To keep you and your family safe, follow these important tips from FEMA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD).
Grilling and BBQ safety tips
1. Check for grill recalls
Before using your grill, visit this site to make sure it hasn’t been recalled. If your grill is recalled, stop using it until the company repairs or replaces it. A broken grill can cause a fire or an injury.
2. Look for damage
Always inspect your grill and gas hoses before using them. Look for cracks, brittleness, holes, or leaks. If anything looks damaged, replace it before using the grill. This helps prevent gas leaks and fires.
3. Grill outdoors only
Never use a grill inside your home, garage, breezeway, carport or under a porch. Grilling indoors is very dangerous. It can cause fires or release carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas.
4. Keep a safe zone
Use your grill at least three feet away from your house, deck rails and anything that can burn. Keep keiki and pets at least three feet away from the grill, too. This is called the “safety zone”.
5. Never leave the grill alone
Always keep an eye on the grill when it’s in use. Never walk away from a lit grill, fire pit or patio torch. Fires can happen quickly when no one is watching.
6. Clean your grill
Clean your grill after every use to remove grease and food bits. Grease can catch fire if it is allowed to build up. Use a ball of aluminum foil or a nylon brush, not a wire brush. Wire bristles can break off and get stuck in your food, which is dangerous.
7. Handle charcoal and lighter fluid safely
After grilling with charcoal, let the coals cool completely. Then, put them in a metal can with a lid to prevent a fire.
Grills are a great way to cook in the summer, but they need to be used carefully. Each year, about 5,400 people across the United States get hurt while grilling and about 13 people die.
You can click here for fire safety tips from HFD, here for tips from FEMA and here for tips from CPSC.
Don’t let that happen to you. Be smart, stay safe, and enjoy your food!