Outdoor Grilling Safety

If there is a fire or gas leak

1. Stay calm. For a small flare up, close the lid and turn off the burners or tank if it is safe.
2. Never use water on a grease fire.
3. If the fire spreads or you can’t control it, get everyone away and call 911.
4. If you smell gas and the grill is off, turn off the tank valve and get the grill checked before using it again.
5. If you smell gas while the grill is on, move away and call 911 if the smell continues.
6. Let the owner know in writing about any fire or damage. You did exactly the right thing.

Keep the lid close. Closing it starves a flare up of air, and that is often all it takes.

Before every cookout

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Lease checked, and the owner asked where grills are allowed
• Grill on a level surface outdoors, well away from the home, railings and overhanging branches
• Grates and grease tray clean
• Hoses and connections checked with soapy water at the start of the season
• Tank valve working
• Fire extinguisher, spray bottle and lid nearby
• Kids and pets well back, and the lit grill never left alone
• Food thermometer ready, with separate plates and utensils for raw meat
• Charcoal cooled completely, then placed in a metal container
• Propane tank valve turned off when done

All done. We hope every cookout ends with full plates and happy guests.

Please be careful with these

Common examples from the guide, not a complete list.

• Please don’t grill indoors, in a garage, under a covered porch or in any enclosed space.
• Please don’t use a grill on a balcony or deck unless the lease and local rules allow it.
• Please don’t add lighter fluid to coals that are already lit. A chimney starter avoids lighter fluid altogether.
• Please don’t store propane tanks indoors or in a garage. Keep them upright and outdoors, out of direct sun.
• Strong wind can blow embers and flames. Consider skipping the grill on very windy, dry days.

Brush soapy water on propane hoses and connections, then open the tank valve. Bubbles mean a leak, so close the valve and don’t light the grill until it is fixed.

For owners: setting clear grill rules

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Fire codes where your homes are looked up, including rules for balconies and multi unit buildings
• Grill rules in the lease or a written addendum, including where grills may be used
• Any grill you provide kept clean, checked each season and placed safely
• Landscaping trimmed back from grilling areas
• A metal container provided for cooled ashes if residents use charcoal

All done. A clear rule sheet prevents most grill problems before summer starts.

For owners: when a grill concern is shared

• Thank the resident or neighbor, and treat fire or gas concerns as urgent.
• Remind residents of grill rules kindly and in writing.
• Repair any damage to decks, siding or railings from heat or fire.
• Replace or remove unsafe provided grills right away.
• Write down what was reported, what was done and when, and follow up kindly to make sure all is well.

A simple grill rule sheet in the move in packet, with a picture of where grills are allowed, prevents most grill problems before summer starts.

Guides that go well with this one

• Deck and Patio Care
• Natural Gas and Propane Safety
• Kitchen Fire Safety
• Houseplants and Balcony Gardens
• Being a Good Neighbor

Helpful resources

The guide points to these for details. Rules differ from place to place, so the official pages where your home is are the best guide.

• National Fire Protection Association: Grilling Safety
• FoodSafety.gov: Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures