Dear Readers,
The warm season is simply wonderful, isn’t it? Nothing beats a cozy barbecue evening with family and friends. Grilling is one of the most enjoyable activities of summer. It brings people together, creates unforgettable moments, and fills the air with delicious aromas. However, despite the joy grilling brings, we must not underestimate the associated dangers. Fire safety is a central aspect that every grill master should keep in mind. Today, I would like to share some valuable tips with you on how to avoid accidents and fires while grilling. This way, you can enjoy your barbecues worry-free and prepare hot steaks without any risky situations. Let’s ensure that the summer remains safe and enjoyable together!
Let’s start by looking at…
The most common dangers when grilling
Every year, numerous accidents occur while grilling, often leading to severe burns and even fires. The most common causes are:
– Improper use of fire accelerants: Gasoline, spirits, and similar liquids should never be used to light the grill. They can cause explosive flash flames.
– Unstable setup: A wobbly grill can easily tip over and injure both the grill master and bystanders.
– Spark flight: Especially in windy weather, sparks can cause fires.
– Carelessness: An unattended grill, especially near children or pets, can quickly become a hazard.
The right location
A safe location for your grill is very important. Place the grill on a firm, non-combustible surface, such as stone slabs or paving stones. This gives the grill the stability it needs and prevents anything from catching fire. Avoid wooden decks or dry plants nearby, as they could easily ignite. Ensure that the grill is stable and cannot tip over. If possible, choose a wind-protected spot to avoid spark flight. Safe grilling ensures that you can enjoy your evenings carefree and to the fullest.
Maintain a safe distance
Maintaining safe distances helps prevent fires. Keep at least one meter away from flammable materials like garden furniture, hedges, or wooden walls. For larger grills, this distance should be even greater. Remember that spark flight, especially in windy conditions, can quickly lead to a fire. Also, keep enough distance from buildings: at least three meters from buildings with non-combustible walls and five meters from those with combustible materials.
Handling fire accelerants
Absolutely avoid using gasoline, spirits, or other highly flammable liquids. These can cause explosive flash flames, leading to severe burns and fires. Instead, use special grill starters, which are safer and available in stores. These products are designed to make lighting the grill easier without causing a dangerous flash flame.
Fire extinguisher – a must for safe grilling
A fire extinguisher should always be within reach when you start the grill. Especially for grease fires, which can be caused by burning cooking fats and oils, a special grease fire extinguisher is necessary. This type of fire extinguisher contains a special extinguishing agent that cools the burning fat or oil while forming a layer that cuts off the oxygen, thus extinguishing the fire. Regular water or foam extinguishers are unsuitable and even extremely dangerous for grease fires!
Why should you have a grease fire extinguisher when grilling?
Specialized extinguishing effect: A grease fire extinguisher is designed to effectively combat fires caused by cooking fat or oil. Grease fires are particularly dangerous because the burning fat becomes extremely hot and can spread easily. The special extinguishing agent in a grease fire extinguisher is designed to safely extinguish these fires without risking the spread of the flames.
Avoiding dangerous reactions: Water and grease fires are a dangerous combination. When water meets burning fat, it immediately evaporates, creating an explosion of hot fat droplets that can spread the fire further. A grease fire extinguisher prevents such dangerous reactions by safely smothering the fire without causing it to spread.
Ease of use: Grease fire extinguishers are easy to use and can be safely operated by anyone. In an emergency, every second counts, and the easy handling of these extinguishers ensures that you can act quickly and effectively.
Protection against severe burns: Fires caused by hot fat or oil can lead to severe burns. A grease fire extinguisher can quickly extinguish such fires, reducing the risk of serious injuries. Especially when children or pets are nearby, it is important to be able to act immediately.
Additional tips for safe grilling
Finally, I would like to share some additional tips for safe grilling:
– Check gas grills: Before the grilling season begins, gas grills should be checked for possible leaks. This can be done by using special sprays or soapy water, applying it to all connections. Small gas bubbles indicate leaks.
– Choose the right grilling spot: The grill should never be placed under pavilions, tents, or umbrellas, as these can easily catch fire from spark flight.
– Proper lighting methods: Only use solid or specifically approved liquid fire starters to light the charcoal. Accelerants like spirits or gasoline are absolutely forbidden! Likewise, no liquid fire starter should be poured into open flames, as this can cause dangerous flashbacks and flames.
– Keep children away: Children should always be kept away from the grill and hot embers, as they often do not recognize the dangers.
– Avoid alcohol: Alcohol impairs perception and reaction abilities and can encourage reckless behavior. Therefore, it should be avoided while grilling.
– Do not move the grill: A hot grill should never be moved or repositioned.
– Monitor grease catch trays: Grease catch trays in the grill must be monitored, as old fat and food residues can ignite. Burning fat should never be extinguished with water, as this can cause a dangerous grease fire explosion. To smother a grease fire, the air supply should be cut off, for example by covering it with a metal lid or closing the grill. For gas grills, the gas supply should be turned off immediately. For frequent grillers, the purchase of a special grease fire extinguisher may be worthwhile.
– Dispose of ashes properly: Hot ashes should not be poured onto the lawn, into bushes, compost, or a trash bin, as dry grass, branches, or waste could ignite. The embers should be thoroughly extinguished with water.
I hope these tips and advice help you enjoy the grilling season safely and relaxed. With these precautions, you can grill carefree and fully enjoy your summer evenings.
I look forward to bringing you more useful topics next week.
Until then, I wish you many enjoyable and safe grilling hours!
Stay safe, stay informed
Until next week!
Your team from
Instructo Consulting GmbH
