Injuries and Illness

Independence Day Fire Safety

Americans will spend more than $2 billion on cookouts this July 4 holiday and will eat more than 150 million hot dogs. And they’ll cook those hot dogs on an assortment of gas, propane, and charcoal grills, which means—if they’re not careful—they could be playing with more fire than they mean to. There are nearly 9,000 grill fires every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and July is the peak month for them.

Encourage some off-the-job safety this holiday weekend with these grill safety tips.

Safety for All Grills

Some safety rules apply to all grills:

  • Grills should be used only outdoors. Indoors, they pose both a fire and a carbon monoxide hazard. “Indoors” includes garages, sheds, and other partially enclosed spaces.
  • Protect children and pets. Keep them away from the grill area, and don’t let children play with matches and lighters.
  • Never leave a grill unattended while it is in use.
  • Don’t spray grease flares with water. Water can cause grease fires to explode.


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Safety for Propane Grills

These safety requirements apply to propane grills:

  • Check for leaks before using the grill. Do this by spraying hoses and connection points with soapy water solution while the propane tank is open and looking for expanding bubbles. Tighten any loose connections, or replace connectors that won’t tighten properly.
  • Don’t turn the gas on and wait before lighting the grill. This can result in a buildup of gas that will create a fireball when you light the grill. 
  • When lighting the grill, leave the lid open, and keep your face back.


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Safety for Charcoal Grills

These safety requirements apply to charcoal grills:

  • If you use a flammable liquid to start your fire, use only lighter fluid—not gasoline or another flammable liquid.
  • Once the fire is lit, don’t spray lighter fluid onto it. Make sure to store lighter fluid safely away from the hot grill. 
  • If you use an electric starter, don’t use it in wet conditions. Let the starter cool completely before putting it away.
  • Don’t dispose of hot coals. Wait until the coals are completely cool.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about fireworks safety.

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