If You're Gonna Grill, Be Safe

It's not summer without grilling outdoors, but the hazards can be easy to overlook. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, firefighters respond each year to nearly 8,000 fires involving grills and barbecue pits. Those incidents result in nearly 120 injuries and $80 million in property damage each year.

So, if you are throwing one of the three billion barbecues taking place in the United States each year, what can you do to avoid contributing to the incident statistics?

Here's some safety pointers from Gillman Insurance Group:

• Always place your grill on a level surface at least 10 feet away from all other objects or structures such as your house, garage, landscaping, etc.

• Never use a grill in an enclosed space--not only can it induce fires, but can be deadly as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

• After grilling with charcoal, soak the coals in water and store in a metal container for proper disposal.

• After cooking on a gas grill, always turn off both the grill and the propane bottle.

• When grilling is complete, be sure to keep children and pets away from the grill until it is completely cooled.