Summer brings with it the smells and sights of outdoor cooking, but it is also necessary to ensure that the practice is done safely.
Important distance
Captain Jonathan Baumgart of Morden Fire & Rescue reminds the community that when it comes to barbecuing, keeping a safe distance from the house is important.
“If you have your barbecue too close to the home, that radiant heat from the grill can transfer to the home,” he said.
“We've gone to incidents where thankfully [it was only] melted siding, but barbecue fires [and] grease fires can take off unexpectedly.”
A clean cooking surface
Captain Baumgart recommends ensuring that the barbecue is clean once it comes out for grilling season — grease buildup can act as a hazard.
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Next, it’s important to position the equipment properly.
“Two feet away from the house is probably a good start, but the further, the better,” he said. “If you have your barbecue on your deck, maybe have the barbecue on the outside of the deck away from the house, that would be even better.”
In the end, being aware and exercising caution can help eliminate the hazards associated with grilling.
“Just be cognizant of what's going on. You are heating stuff and it's normally close to the home, either on the deck or in the back patio or whatever, so just [be aware] that things are going on,” said Captain Baumgart.
With files from Jayme Giesbrecht