Seekonk Fire Department Summer Safety Tips

Memorial Day signifies the “beginning of summer”, and with summer comes celebrations, family gatherings and Cookouts!!!

Within a 4-year period, Massachusetts fire departments responded to 431 fires involving grills, hibachis & barbecues. These incidents caused: 20 civilian injuries, 3 firefighter injuries and $3.5 million dollars in property damage.

Be Safe
• Only grill outdoors
• Grills cannot be used on a porch, balcony or deck with a roof or overhang
• Grills can only be used on open first floor porches, decks or patios if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground or if the porch is at ground level
• Grills must be 10-feet from the side of a building unless the manufacturer’s instructions say it can be closer. Keep all matches, lighters and lighter fluid away from children
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from grills. Children should never play near grills or propane cylinders.

Propane
• Keep all propane outdoors, at least 10 feet away from building openings (window, doors, dryer vents) and 20 feet away from air intake vents and ignition sources.
• Do not smoke while handling a propane cylinder
• Store cylinders upright in an outdoor shaded area; do not leave cylinders in a vehicle, cylinders should not be used, stored or transported where they can be exposed to high temperatures.
(Source: National Propane Gas Association/Propane Education and Research Council (2003))

Gas Grill Care & Maintenance
• Check that all of the connections are tight before turning on the gas.
• Check the tubes to the burners for blockages resulting from insect nests or from grease.
• Clean the grease trap every time you grill.
• Take tanks and grills that need repair to a propane dealer or qualified appliance repair person.
• Replace propane cylinders that are old, rusty, or showing signs of disrepair.

Charcoal Grills
• Use only charcoal starter fluid. Gasoline and kerosene should not be used to start a fire in a grill. Never add lighter fluid once briquettes or coal are hot (a flash fire may occur causing serious burns.)
• Charcoal briquettes give produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. Always use charcoal grills outdoors with sufficient ventilation.
• Let grill ashes burn out completely then cool for 48 hours prior to disposal.
• If ashes need to be disposed of prior to cooling completely, soak them in water thoroughly and put them in a metal container.

Source: Office of the State Fire Marshal