Being Safe While Grilling

in General Outdoor Advice

The scene of the classic American summer in New York City often follows along these lines. Friends and family gather on a porch, backyard, or closed off street for a good time highlighted by kind company and good food.

Summer brings the expectation of outside cooking and armature experts firing up their grills. For many, few things beat a homemade hamburger, hotdog, or on the special occasion a barbequed steak.

But the fun of summertime grilling can quickly turn into a dangerous situation if not properly cared for with safety first. The combination of food, flame, and fuel surrounded by people and flammable homes can be the exact recipe for disaster that most will do anything to avoid.

So this summer, as families in New York gear up for a summer of grilling fun and food, grill masters across the city should take extra precautions when it comes to grilling safety. The first and foremost danger that can be incurred from summertime grilling is the hazard posed by a potential fire.

Fire damage in New York City can be severe if the fire is ignited by a grill because barbeques operate with the assistance of fuel. Fuel for a grill, such as gas or charcoal, can fan the flames of an accidental grill fire and result in serious fire damage to a home or other property.

In addition to fire damage in New York City, grills can cause personal injury to those using them if they are used carelessly or without safety as a primary concern. One of the ways that grills can cause personal injury or fire damage is by not understanding the flammable characteristics of lighter fluid on hot charcoal.

Using lighter fluid to ignite charcoal is a relatively safe procedure by those who understand how to use the two combustible elements, but it can be extremely dangerous for those who do not understand how to properly use lighter fluid. Understanding the basics is the key to safety.

Liquid lighter fluid burns slow and consistently. That is why putting minimal amounts of lighter fluid on cold charcoal is a safe way to light coals.

But pouring ligher fluid on already burning and hot coals can lead to disaster. Because the coals are already hot, the temperature of the coals rapidly heats the sensitive lighter fluid and changes it from a liquid to an explosive gas.

Flare ups and fire balls are the common result of spraying lit coals with additional lighter fluid. This can too easily result in personal injury or massive fire damage to a home.

Gas fueled grills are typically less dangerous to use than are charcoal grills, but they still house their own safety concerns. The main threat of danger from a gas grill is a blockage in the gas flow.

Clogging can occur in the gas lines of a grill and cause gas fueled and uncontrollable fires. If the gas lines are blocked, or if the flow of gas seems strangled in anyway, the grilling operator should immediately turn off the grill at the outside controls and then turn the gas itself off on the tank.

Following these safety guidelines will ensure that a family in New York will be able to enjoy their summertime traditions of grill and barbequing their favorite foods.

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