September 03, 2020 –
Olympia – This coming weekend, we celebrate the last few days of summer with plans for outdoor activities and grilling. The fire service in Washington State expects to be very busy this weekend, too.
On average over the last five years, the fire service has responded to more than 8,000 individual calls over the Labor Day Weekend. More than 400 of those calls are fire related, and many of these fires are related to outdoor cooking and grilling.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office urges residents to keep outdoor grilling safe all weekend long and avoid contributing to an already very busy weekend for our fire service personnel.
• Place portable grills at least 3 feet away from flammable materials including, fences, deck
railings and exterior siding.
• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from hot grills.
• Never leave lit grills unattended.
• Use long BBQ utensils to prevent burns.
• Keep loose sleeves rolled up to prevent contact with hot grill and possible ignition.
• When turning off gas grills, close the valve at the tank and close the lid.
• Allow gas and charcoal grills to cool fully before covering or putting away.
Don’t forget to mask up, wash your hands, and follow to social distancing recommendations.
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