Barbecue safety needs to be priority over summer
Posted Jul 12, 2016 2:00 pm.
Last Updated Jul 12, 2016 2:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Stampede week is the perfect time to get your Alberta beef sizzling on the barbecue.
Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said although most Calgarians use proper safety precautions, it doesn’t hurt to remind people of the possible danger.
“One of the main things we tell people is if you’re using your barbecue, make sure you keep it well away from anything flammable,” he stated.
It doesn’t hurt to double check the rules, especially if you live in an apartment or condo.
“A lot of condo bylaws prohibit the use of barbecues on balconies; they don’t let you do that. Very much that’s down to individual condos. A lot of that is because a lot of the balconies are fairly confined, above your barbecue is going to be something that’s combustible, so perfectly understandable.”
Last year Calgary firefighters responded to 19 barbecue related fires.
Five tips for safe grilling:
– always barbecue outside
– barbecue well away from your house
– open the barbecue lid before lighting
– don’t use starter fluid on lit coals
– wait 15 minutes before relighting a gas barbecue
