As the weather warms up, many will also start warming up their grill

“This is that time of year where you want to have fun and I want you to have fun, so be safe with your grilling and also outside fires,” said Captain David Abdoch of Public Information and Community Risk Reduction for the Rochester Fire Department.

According to Abdoch, last year there were over 10,000 house-related fires due to grilling nationwide.

”It’s something that we try to prevent and we do that prevention by education,” he said. 

He says that the Rochester Fire Department commonly sees house fires caused by unattended grilling and urges those opting for the grill to remain attentive.

“[People should make] sure that you’re focused, you’re paying attention to what you’re doing, and you have some extinguishing agent nearby,” Abdoch said. “Whether it’s a hose, you can have sand, dirt, anything that will help you extinguish the fire quickly and safely.”

He reminds the importance of only grilling at least 10 feet away from your home and doing some preventative maintenance before starting up, like making sure your grill is clean and is leak free.

“You could do that by putting soapy water on the outside of it as you turn it on,” he said. “And if you see it start to bubble up, that’ll let you know that you’ve got a leak. You probably should shut it down and get that hose replaced.”

He says that along with home fires, thermal burns are another issue the RFD has seen from grilling and encourages individuals to use all the proper utensils like tongs and oven mitts.

“But then also having a first aid kit available in your house, knowing where it is and being able to get to it quickly,” Abdoch said.

It’s easy precautions that can make this grilling season safe for everyone.

It’s grilling season, everyone wants to grill, and we want you to grill but we want you to grill safely,” Abdoch said.