Stuart Fire Officials Warn of Grill Safety Dangers

Stuart fire officials are urging residents to take precautions with their grills as the summer season approaches.

From 2009 to 2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,900 home fires annually involving grills. These fires killed 10 people, injured 160, and caused $118 million in direct property damage each year. Nearly 3,900 of those fires involved structures, while about 5,100 occurred outdoors.

Gas grills accounted for 83 percent of grill-related home fires. The leading causes were failure to clean grills, placing them too close to flammable materials, leaving them unattended, and leaks or breaks in gas lines.

July sees the most grill fires, though they occur year-round. About 27 percent of structure fires involving grills started on patios, terraces, or exterior balconies. Another 8 percent began in kitchens.

Grill-related injuries also send thousands to emergency rooms. In 2014, 16,600 people sought emergency care for grill injuries, with more than half suffering thermal burns. Children under five accounted for about one-third of the 4,900 non-fire thermal burn cases, typically from contact with hot surfaces.

Fire officials recommend cleaning grills regularly, positioning them at least 10 feet away from homes and other combustible materials, never leaving a lit grill unattended, and inspecting gas grills for leaks or damage before use.