Waterloo Fire Rescue out with barbecue safety tips for the first weekend of spring

If you are looking to start up the barbecue this weekend, remember to do so safely.

Waterloo Fire Rescue is out with a warning to make sure your barbecue is in proper working order before you fire it up.

If you are going to do some grilling this weekend, John Percy with Waterloo Fire Rescue says to do a 50/50 soap and water test to check for leaks to your propane tank.

“Turn on the barbecue tank itself and apply the solution to it and see if you see any bubbles. If you do see bubbles, that means you have a leak, so do not turn on the barbecue. Turn off the tank and reconnect the hose and check the tank again with the solution and if you don’t see any bubbles it is safe.”

Percy also adds that if you are going to barbecue make sure you do so outside, and not in your garage and to also store propane takes outside of your home or in a shed in the backyard.

If you are doing any spring cleaning around your home, Percy also suggests cleaning the back of your refrigerator and stove of any dirt and dust to avoid a fire hazard.

 

More barbecue safety tips from Waterloo Fire Rescue can be found below:

Lighting your barbecue

  • Light a gas barbecue with a match that’s already burning with the lid open and before turning on the propane

 

Location of your barbecue

  • Keep it away from combustible items, including wooden fences, overhangs and shrubs
    Never move a lit barbecue
    Never use a barbecue indoors or in a garage

 

Storage and transportation

  • Store propane cylinders upright and in a well-ventilated area, outdoors or in a shed
  • During transport, insert a plastic valve plug in the gas outlet
  • Wedge the tank on the floor in the back of the car with the window open or store in the trunk

 

Leaks

  • The smell of rotten eggs or boiled cabbage may indicate a leak
  • Try the soap test – leave the barbecue valve off and the cylinder valve on, and spread a soapy solution on all fittings and the hose. If bubbles appear and become bigger, you have a leak
  • Always turn off the cylinder shut-off valve first, then the grill controls

 

Maintenance

  • Clean your barbecue annually
  • Keep the burner free of dust and cobwebs
  • Check the fitting that connects the barbecue hose to the cylinder – replace if it’s torn, cracked or bent
  • Use a fitting wrench to hook up a propane cylinder
  • Unplug tiny holes in the burner with a nail or paper clip and check the burner for corrosion and replace if it’s badly rusted
  • Propane cylinders must be recertified every 10 years

 

Steps to put out barbecue fires

  • Use a fire distinguisher
  • Don’t try to put out a fat fire with water – it will spread the fire

 

For additional fire safety information click here.

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