When the warmer weather hits, there’s nothing better than breathing in the smell of food on the grill.
Three out of five households own a gas grill, which translates to a lot of tasty meals. But it also means there’s an increased risk of home fires. Each year an average of 8,800 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. While nearly half of the people who grill do it year-round, July is the peak month for grill fires followed by May, June and August.
Grilling by the numbers
- In 2012, 16,900 patients went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills.
- One of every six (16%) home structure fires in which grills were involved in ignition, something that could catch fire was too close to the grill.
- Overall, leaks or breaks were factors in one of every five reported grill fires.
- Gas grills contribute to a higher number of home fires overall than their charcoal counterparts.
Source: NFPA's "Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment," by Marty Ahrens, November 2013.
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