Grill and fire pit safety for the backyard

Propane, charcoal and wood pellet grills belong outside. Used indoors, they can start a fire or cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Most outdoor fires start by accident.

The grill

• Use it outside onlyDon't store or use a grill on a porch or balcony either.
• Keep it 10 feet from siding and deck railingsKeep it out from under eaves and overhanging branches too.
• Keep a 3-foot safe zone around itThe zone keeps kids and pets back from the heat.
• Open a gas grill's lid before lighting it
• Stay with it while it's lit
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby
• Clean it after each useGrease left on the grill can start a fire.
• Put cooled coals in a metal can with a lid

A gas grill at the start of the season

• Clear the burner tubesOnce a year, check the tubes that feed the burners for spiders, insects or food drippings, and have a blocked tube cleared.
• Check the hosesLook for cracks, brittleness, holes and sharp bends, and keep the hoses away from hot surfaces and dripping grease.
• Test the connections for leaksEach time you reconnect the propane tank, or if you smell gas, open the tank valve and brush a mix of half water, half dish soap on the connections. Bubbles mean a leak. Close the tank valve, don't light the grill, and take it to your propane dealer or an appliance repair shop.
• Store the spare tank upright and outdoorsNever under or near the grill, and never in a hot car.

If the flame goes out while you cook, turn off the gas at the tank, open the lid and wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before relighting. Gas can build up under the grates.

The fire pit

• Keep it 10 feet from the houseThe same goes for an outdoor chimney or fireplace, and for anything else that can burn.
• Use a metal screen over a wood fireIt keeps sparks from floating out.
• Put the fire out before you leave the yard
• Keep a campfire 25 feet from tents and shrubs

Children

• Watch children closely while the fire pit is lit
• Store matches and lighters out of sight and reach

Fireworks

Fireworks are dangerous to people and pets and put your property at risk. Sparklers can reach 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and cause third-degree burns.