Local BBQ fires on the rise

Editor's Note: As temperatures continue to remain above or near the century mark and dry conditions create extreme fire danger, the Folsom Telegraph presents its weekly "Be fire ready" series, in cooperation with our local agencies to raise awareness to the importance of fire safety in the community. In recent days, firefighters in El Dorado Hills reported that they have responded to multiple fires involving a structure or vegetation that originated from a residential barbecue. The uptick has fire officials urging residents to use caution in an effort to keep the heat on your meat and not your home. When it comes to barbecues, fires can break out on a nearby structure that is too close to the grilling unit and falls victim to radiant heat that can melt or ignite combustible materials such as window trims, railing and wall coverings. Additionally, it is not uncommon for vegetation to ignite from an ember during a "flare up" or burst of flames that can take place on the grill itself. These bursts of flames are often caused by oil or fat dripping off of food and hitting the coals, essentially causing a grease fire in the unit itself. They tend to occur soon after food is placed on the grill or once it has been flipped. Such flare-ups occurring in a barbecue that is left unattended can quickly convert a family dinner into a misfortune that is not only costly but could cause injury. According to the National Fire Protection Association, July is peak fire season as well as the month that barbecue fires increase. Officials offer a number of tips they recommend following to make sure your grilling remains safe this time of year. • Keep grills away from the home and deck railings and out from under eaves or tree branches. • Keep the barbecue clean and never leave it unattended. Remove grease or fat buildup in the trays below the grill. • Make sure the lid of a gas grill is open before lighting it. • Never add starter fluid or any other flammable liquid to a fire. • Let coals cool completely before disposing into a metal container. National Fire Protection Association statistics also reveal that gas grills contribute to a higher number of fires than charcoal grills and some 10,600 home fires are started by barbecues each year. During periods of high fire danger, consider alternatives to outdoor cooking.Check for burn bans prior to grilling/cooking outdoors.Propane and charcoal barbecue grills should only be used outdoors.Place the grill away from your home, deck, eves and overhead branches.Never leave any fire unattended, including fires in barbecue pits.Remove any buildup of fats or grease from grills.Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.Have a water source nearby when cooking/grilling.Have a water hose connected to a faucet, uncoiled and ready to turn on at a moment's notice. Have a bucket of water near the grill. If no water is available, have a shovel ready to smother any escaped embers with sand/dirt.Check for leaks on gas grills prior to use.Make sure the gas grill lid is open before lighting it.If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least five minutes before re-lighting.If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.For charcoal grills: Consider using a charcoal chimney starter that allows firing up charcoal without the use of starter fluid. There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire.If using starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to an ongoing fire.Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.Let coals cool completely and dispose of them in a metal container.