Barbecue Check-up and Clean-up

The outdoor cooking season has arrived. While there are a selected number of enthusiasts that have a tendency to cook outdoors year round, most still choose to wait until better weather arrives.

When bringing the barbecue back to the outdoors, Fire Chief Brent Marshall offers a few safety tips and checks before grilling begins:

1. Closely inspect the propane or gas hoses for cracks, abrasions, wear and tear before turning the gas supply on.
2. With the gas supply on, check all hose connections with a brush and 50/50 soap/water solution. Should any bubbles appear, turn off the gas supply and retighten all connections.
3. A pipe cleaner or small piece of wire can be used to clean all gas burner ports of cobwebs and spiders.
4. If you suspect possible problems with any parts of the barbecue, do not risk using the barbecue until the parts are replaced.
5. Keep the lid wide open when lighting the burner.
6. In the event the barbecue does not light immediately, turn off the gas supply for a couple of minutes, then retry. When cooking is finished, turn off the gas supply first, allowing the gas in the lines to burn off first.
7. Keep children away from the hot barbecue as burns are very painful and serious.
8. Never grill in enclosed areas such as the garage.

Mayor Bonnette says, “Checking and cleaning the barbecue only takes a very small amount of time, which in turn, will allow many hours of safe barbecuing over the season”.

Additional safety tips and information can be obtained at the Departments’ Information Centre at Georgetown Marketplace on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 to 1:00. You may also call 905-877-1133 and ask to speak with one of our Fire Prevention Staff.

Support Our Sponsors