During summertime, millions of households regularly take advantage of the pleasant, warmer weather by cooking meals outside, specifically on the grill. While this is generally seen as a fun and relaxing activity, it can also represent a serious source of property damage and injury.

A simple and fun backyard cookout can quickly become complex and stressful due to a fire. Each year in the U.S., fires from outdoor grilling result in hundreds of serious injuries and millions of dollars in losses. While most injuries can be treated with an emergency room visit, such as burns, lacerations, and carbon monoxide poisoning, it is not unusual for a person to be fatally injured from a fire that occurred due to an outdoor grill. Likewise, damage to homes, decks, garages, sheds, and more can range from simple paint damage to major structural damage.

The most important factor of a successful grilled meal is grilling safely by using practices that minimize the chances of fire escaping the grill or of persons suffering burns. This care extends to all phases of use: loading charcoal grills, lighting fires, cooking, extinguishing flames or hot coals, storage of materials, and anything else.

How can you stay safe while grilling?

Here’s some advice to help:

  • Place grills on level surfaces to reduce the likelihood of tip-overs
  • Only operate grills in an area that is adequately ventilated and not too close to flammable materials or structures (such as wood fences, decks, shrubs, overhanging tree branches, etc.)
  • Avoid operating grills in indoor or in enclosed areas where carbon monoxide fumes can build
  • Carefully supervise children and pets when a grill is being used
  • Use lighter fluid on coals, but NEVER use other accelerants such as gas or kerosene
  • Don't squirt lighter fluid on coals that have already been lit
  • Handle food on the grill with long-handled utensils and oven mitts

When finished cooking on a grill, extinguish the coals by slowly lowering the lid and carefully closing any grill vents. Again, the use of oven mitts while doing this is wise. If hot coals must be moved to extinguish, individually put coals in sand or water. Steam is dangerous, so NEVER pour coals into water or pour water onto coals.

Proper grilling practices are the best way to prevent accidents. However, if you need help with injury or damage resulting from a grill accident, or if you just want further advice on making sure you’re covered if an accident happens, call Williams Insurance. Our professional agents are ready to help you!


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