Seven Ways to Prevent Fires When Cooking Outdoors

With warm weather on the way, people are firing up their grills and uncovering their fire pits so they can begin cooking outdoors once more. However, this fun summer activity does not come without potential dangers, and you need to take proper precautions to avoid a potential fire. Here are seven ways you can help prevent fires when cooking outdoors:

1. Never leave a fire unattended
   • The number one rule when cooking outdoors is to never leave a lit flame without someone watching it. Otherwise, there is a risk a fire may start without anyone noticing, giving it time to spread and potentially cause significant harm to anyone in the vicinity.
2. Always have a fire extinguisher nearby
   • You may not be able to prevent every fire, but you can make sure to stop them as soon as they start. That is why, if you are cooking outdoors, you should make sure to have a fire extinguisher ready at all times, which can protect you and your loved ones from danger.
3. Make sure to use proper cooking equipment
   • Using the correct cooking equipment can substantially decrease your risk of fires or burns when cooking outside. This means getting utensils with long handles, potholders, and other tools that can keep you at a distance if a fire becomes too dangerously hot and starts to risk spreading.
4. Avoid wearing loose clothing or untied hair
   • Loose clothing and untied hair can be much more comfortable during the summer, but if you are cooking outdoors, they can risk catching fire. That is why you should make sure your clothes fit reasonably well, and tie your hair back if you have long hair, which can prevent you from having an unfortunate accident.
5. Do not pour fuel on a lit flame
   • Some people will try to get a cooking fire going faster by pouring lighter fluid or other types of fuel on an already lit flame. This is generally a bad idea, however, as it can cause the fire to flare up, which can potentially start a fire.
6. Cook in a well-ventilated area
   • When it comes to avoiding a fire, cooking in a well-ventilated area is key. That means avoiding anywhere that is enclosed and does not have much space for smoke or ash to go. If you choose to cook outdoors in a place that is not well-ventilated, you make the risk of a fire that much more likely.
7. Dispose of charcoal safely
   • Once you are done cooking, you need to make sure you dispose of charcoal from any cooking fires safely. This means that you should wait until they cool down, and dispose of them somewhere they are unlikely to start a fire. Do not just dump them on the ground, or else they can ignite dry grass or other kindling and start a major fire.

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