Grilling up fire safety!

VFRS shares tips for barbecue season

It’s almost Father’s Day, and many people will be lighting up the barbecue to cook a nice meal, but remember to do so safely. With an anticipated dry summer ahead, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) is reminding you of the importance of fire safety and prevention before you grill up a storm.

When barbecuing, keep these safety tips top of mind:

• Only use barbecues outdoors. They produce carbon monoxide – a colourless, practically odourless, tasteless gas that can be fatal in an enclosed space. 
• Ensure all burner ports are free of rust, dirt or cobwebs. Use a pipe cleaner or wire to ensure they are clear of any obstructions before lighting them up.
• Check hose and cylinder connections to make sure they are in good working condition. To look for leaks, brush a mixture of 50 per cent soap and 50 per cent water onto all hoses and connections – then, look for bubbles. Replace, repair or tighten any connections until the bubbles are gone. Never use a match or lighter to check for leaks.
• Clean out grease traps and keep grill areas free of any debris.
• Place your barbecue in a safe area away from combustible materials, buildings and fences. Radiant heat from a barbecue can damage siding on the exterior of a home or shed.
• Always light the barbecue with the lid open. If the burner does not ignite, turn off the gas and wait five minutes. Keep the lid open, then try again.

When cooking with charcoal grills, only use charcoal briquettes (a compressed chunk of coal dust or charcoal) explicitly designed for that purpose and charcoal lighting fluids to ignite. Sprinkle the briquettes with lighter fluid and allow it to soak in for approximately 10 minutes. Never add fluid after igniting the barbecue and never use gasoline to light a barbecue.

Propane barbecues

If your grill runs on propane, remember these tips:

• Always carry and transport a propane cylinder in a car in an upright position with the safety valve on top. Ensure your vehicle’s windows are open while transporting.
• Never leave a cylinder in a parked car with the windows up. Heat can build up quickly, which, in turn, can cause an explosion. 
• Do not store propane inside a building, including a garage. Propane gas is heavier than air – if a cylinder leaks, the escaping gas will settle near the ground. A spark from the pilot light of your furnace, hot water heater or fireplace can cause ignition at any time.

For more information and fire safety tips from VFRS, visit vaughan.ca/fire.

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