COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLIO) — If you’re getting ready to grill this weekend, make sure the only thing at risk of burning is your food.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, July is the peak month for grill fires. Nearly one-fifth of those fires are caused by grills that haven’t been cleaned.
Fire officials recommend opening the grill lid before lighting it and never leaving it unattended while in use. It’s also important to keep the grill a safe distance from structures and children to help prevent fires or injuries.
“Make sure that you have a safe zone around your grill, so a good three-foot distance between anything, and that's, you know, your deck, your siding, anything like that, and little ones as well. So keeping that safe distance around the grill that way you don't get anybody in around the grill that shouldn't be around the grill, especially with little ones,” says Paul Martin, Fire Prevention Assistant Chief, Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that an average of nearly 22,000 people visit emergency rooms each year due to grill-related injuries.
