Kingston Fire Department Recommends BBQ Safety Tips

Kingston Fire & Rescue recommends taking a few safety precautions to ensure safe grilling on your barbecue.

“Everyone enjoys food cooked outdoors on the barbecue” says Tracey LeBlanc, Fire Inspector.  “It’s important to check and clean your propane barbecue according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”

Make the following three-step safety check part of your barbecue cleaning routine:

CLEAN: use a pipe cleaner or wire to make sure the burner ports are free of rust, dust, dirt, spider webs or other debris.

CHECK: examine the hose leading from the fuel supply to the burners. Replace if cracked or damaged.

TEST: find leaks by applying a 50/50 solution of water and dish soap to all fuel and hose connections. If bubbles appear, tighten the connections and/or replace the damaged parts and always re-test.

- Keep the barbecue positioned well away from the home and/or deck railings, and not underneath any eaves, overhanging branches or patio umbrellas.

- Use barbecue tools with long handles.  Clean grease off the grill and trays underneath regularly to reduce the risk of flare ups.

- Never leave a lit barbecue unattended.

- Barbecues are for outdoor use only due to the production carbon monoxide which could reach dangerous exposure levels and lead to serious health effects, or even death.

- Never store propane tanks indoors in houses or garages.  If storing the barbecue indoors, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

For these and other fire safety and prevention messages, see www.cityofkingston.ca/fire.

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Release source: City of Kingston | Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Tags: Barbecue, BBQ, fire & rescue

Category: Releases