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Fire Marshal Nick Brenner is reminding everyone to cook safely after a weekend fire destroyed a barbecue and damaged a patio at an Eagle Ridge apartment complex.
On the afternoon of March 30, Fort McMurray firefighters responded to a 911 call of a barbecue on fire outside a Sandpiper Drive apartment unit. Residents tried to extinguish the fire with a bucket of water – unsuccessfully. As soon as firefighters arrived, they used an extinguisher to quickly extinguish the fire.
“Never put water on a grease fire. It’s dangerous. It can quickly make the fire worse,” says Brenner.
Fire Investigators determined the fire was caused by a buildup of grease that spread to a barbecue cover and to a bag of charcoal stored underneath the grill.
With warmer temperatures in the forecast, the Fire Marshal is reminding everyone to focus on barbecue safety before firing up their grill the first time this spring. Unattended cooking continues to be a leading cause of fires in Wood Buffalo.
To keep your barbecue safe, follow these safety tips:
- Only use barbecues outdoors—never in a garage, tent, or enclosed space.
- Keep your grill clean, by removing grease buildup from trays and grates.
- Place your barbecue far away from siding, deck railings, and overhanging branches.
- Never leave the grill unattended once it's lit and hot.
- Keep children and pets at least one metre away from the barbecue area.
What to do if your barbecue catches fire
- close the lid or,
- deploy your Class K fire extinguisher or,
- smother flames with baking soda or sand
Never use water to put out a barbecue fire. As always, call 911 in any emergency. .
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