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Outdoor Cooking Safety Tips...

With outdoor cooking time in Texas come the fire hazards these present. Nothing tastes better than a burger or steak from the grill! But you may not have cooked enough to feed the Fire Department, so let’s review some safety  tips for this warm weather tradition.

  1. Never use an outdoor grill on the balcony of any home or apartment. (or on the ground floor patio if it’s near the building), or in the garage area of a house.
  2. Never use gasoline to light the fire! The vapors this gives off are what causes the “flash fire”. Match light type charcoal is even safer than “lighter fluid”, and electric “coil lighters” cause no open flames at all.
  3. ALWAYS raise the lid before hitting the lighter button on gas type grills.
  4. When transporting L.P. (propane) tanks for refill or exchange do not transport them in an enclosed vehicle area, including the trunk. Find someone with a pick-up truck (this is Texas ! ). A small leak and any spark from the vehicles electrical system could be catastrophic.
  5. Make sure the grill you are using is stable. The old three leg “tripod”  type BBQs are easily tipped over if bumped leaving hot coals on you, a child, or a pet and your food on the ground!
  6. Never dispose of charcoal ashes in the trash! Even 1-2 days later one small hot coal can start a fire in your trash can, or in the trash truck where its emptied (this happens A LOT) These ashes should be allowed to cool, then dumped on the ground and soaked with water. This is not an environmental issue, as ashes are not classified as “waste”.

 

Outdoor cooking with friends and family is an American tradition, Enjoy it safely!