Tips before starting up your grills this weekend

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – With the Memorial Day holiday just around the corner, the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts is reminding residents to practice fire safety this season.

This beautiful sunny weather typically leads to more outdoor cooking and things like grilling can pose a fire risk if done improperly. More than 75% of grilling fires in Massachusetts occur between May and September, and Memorial Day is a leading day for cookouts with family and friends.

It’s important to remember to never grill indoors or on a porch, make sure your grill is at least 10 feet away from your home, and keep a circle of safety around a grill to keep out pets and children.

Captain Drew Piemonte of the Springfield Fire Department says that people should always stay concentrated when grilling, “A mishap can happen pretty quickly, like I said if its got a lot of grease and build up on there, a fire can spread pretty quickly on the grill. You should be vigilant, keeping your eye on the grill, especially with young children, even pets running around. You should always maintain a safe distance and be vigilant on that.

Another important tip is to never use gasoline on an open flame, whether in a grill, or an outdoor campfire. Remember to dispose of those smoking materials correctly and of course, keep grease and fat build-up controlled and an extinguisher nearby.

“Just be smart and use your head, put it away from where all of the kids are,” expressed Daniel Szostkiewcz of Holyoke, “Keep it away from the house, and keep your eye on it when it’s lit. it’s flammable. It’s like leaving an open match or an open candle somewhere unattended. You have to be careful.”

If you smell gas while the fire is lit, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department.

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Melissa Torres is a reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2021. Follow Melissa on X @melissatorrestv and view her bio to see more of her work.

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