As grills get ready to fire up across the country ahead of Memorial Day celebrations, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is reminding New Yorkers of standard grill safety guidelines to prevent accidents and serious injuries.
May, June, July and August are peak months for grill fires. Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shows that between 2019 and 2023 gas grills were involved in an average of 9,287 home fires per year, including 4,682 structure fires and 4,605 outdoor fires, with one-fifth of these fires stemming from uncleaned grills.
Additionally, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 21,682 people visited emergency rooms each year between 2020 and 2024 due to grill-related injuries.
A look at the tips
The following are tips are from the NFPA and FASNY that can keep everyone safe:
“With Memorial Day approaching, the unofficial start of summer, we know after a long winter many families will be gathering to enjoy sunshine, barbecue food, great vibes and meaningful time together,” said Gene Perry, FASNY president, in a statement.
“We want to make sure those memories remain positive and joyful – and that starts with prioritizing grill safety and practicing it every time you cook outside.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: FASNY offers fire safety for grilling ahead of Memorial Day weekend
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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