While Memorial Day weekend usually kicks off the summer, the weekend usually includes celebrations and cookouts. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) wants to remind everyone of some basic safety tips and precautions in order to grill stress free this summer. 

The NFPA shows that from 2014-2018, fire departments in America responded to 10,600 homes on average for fires that involved grills, hibachis, or barbecues. Of those 10,600 homes, 4,900 were structure fires. These fires resulted in an annual average of 10 civilian deaths and 160 civilian injuries. The NFPA estimates that over 149 million dollars in property damage were caused by fires. 

If you haven’t used your grill over winter it’s important to check it for leaks. Guy Colonna says the first thing you want to do when looking for gas leaks is to just look inside.

There are plenty of other methods to look for leaks on the hose as well.

A yearly average of 19,700 people went to emergency rooms due to grill injuries. Half of those were from thermal burns and children under five accounted for an average of 39% of the contact-type burns. 

The NFPA asks that you keep your grill clean, place it away from the home, deck railings, and out form under eaves and branches. You should always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it and keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the grilling area. Above all else, never leave your grill unattended. For more information visit the NFPA’s website.