Staying Fire-Safe This Grilling Season | SERVPRO of Marietta West

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of Marietta West to learn more.

Spring is a time of new life, a lifting of the spirits after the long cold winter, and it encourages many of us to activity again after a period that can easily stagnate us. Birds and bees are at their best, and nature practically begs us to be outdoors enjoying its wonder...And when we’re outdoors in warm weather, what do we do?

We barbecue, naturally!

The grill has been waiting so long, and now it’s time to crank it up and get some burgers going. But the increase in outdoor activities tends to lead also to an elevation in the number of accidental home fires. In fact, spring sees more daily fires on average than any other time of year. But there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your outdoor activities are safe from fire this season.

- The Grill - Grills are to blame for most accidental outdoor fires this time of year, and it’s easy to see why. When high heat and flames combine with nearby combustible elements, gas and grease, you can imagine that it doesn’t take much short of the strictest cooking discipline for a fire to start. So keep it safe—don’t use a grill that has leaks or structural damage that might destabilize it, don’t leave the grill unattended while it’s operating, and don’t forget to clean up after. Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

- The Fire Pit - The social hub of the backyard has become the fire pit for many families. Conversations come easy, and marshmallows roast perfectly. Just make sure you’re set up for safety around the pit. Keep a bucket of water within reach, in case of an emergency or spilled ash, and use that bucket to slowly douse the fire when you’re done. Dumping water can create billowing smoke and send dangerous embers flying. Never leave the fire unattended, and make sure kids and pets don’t go near it without being properly supervised.

- Chimneys & Dryer Vents - These don’t have to be done in spring, but you might as well while you’ve got fire safety on the brain. Your chimney stacks up soot and ash over the winter, so clean it out now so you don’t have a problem when you fire it up again in the fall. And lastly, pull the vent pipe off your dryer and examine it to see if any flammable lint is hiding in it. That stuff goes up quickly in high heat.

SERVPRO of South Atlanta's technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.