Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

Everyone loves a cookout.  However, cookouts can lead to tragedy if they are not properly planned.

Here are some safety tips for a happy and safe cookout season:

• Never use gasoline to start a fire.
• Use charcoal lighter fluid safely.  Use only on coals before the fire is lit.  If you try to make a fire bigger by adding more fluid, the heat from the coals may ignite the stream of fuel and burn back into the can, causing it to explode in your hands.
• Try using a U.L. approved electrical starter in place of lighter fluid.
• Place grills away from structures (minimum 15 feet) so they will not tip over or ignite objects above them.  One of the biggest dangers with grills is trying to use them on apartment or condominium balconies.  This practice is unsafe and against the law.
• Never bring a grill into the home.  The carbon monoxide produced by burning charcoal is dangerous, even deadly, in an enclosed space.
• Keep a garden hose or a portable fire extinguisher handy in case the fire gets out of control.  Call 911 immediately.
• Keep children and pets away from fires and grills.  It only takes a second for curiosity to cause a serious burn.
• Though coals may appear to be cool, always soak them with water.  Coals retain enough heat to re-ignite for days after a fire.
• If your bag of charcoal gets wet, leave it in a well-ventilated area away from the house.  During the drying process spontaneous ignition can occur in confined areas.

For more information on this or other safety issues, contact you local fire and rescue station or the Public Information and Life Safety Education Section at 703-246-3801 or 703-385-4419 (TTY).