Grilling safety tips from the Panama City Fire Department

PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – With millions of Americans across the country stocked up on hamburgers and hot dogs and ready to fire up those grills for the 4th of July, it’s important to be safe when grilling during the holiday.

Panama City fire officials are reminding residents to keep sharp objects out of the reach of kids and pets, grill in an open space and at least 10 to 12 feet away from any structure in their yard, and make sure not to use too much lighter fluid for a charcoal grill.

When cleaning up be sure to douse charcoal in water and store it in a metal container so it can thrown away properly disconnect the hoses connected to a propane tank and make sure the grill is turned off.

Practicing grill safety is especially important during July when grilling accidents occur more than any other month.

“The month of July has the highest rate of fires caused by grilling, which includes emergency room visits and unfortunately deaths,” Panama City Assistant Fire Chief Kent Taylor said. “So it’s very important that everybody plays it safe, be safe, and practice as much safety as they can.”

Taylor says if a fire does start when you’re grilling call 911 immediately and clear a path for fire crews to access your grill and extinguish the flames.

It’s also against the National Fire Safety Code to grill on a balcony or breezeway of an apartment or condo.

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