Safety tips for grilling season!

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) — Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and for many West Virginians, grilling season. People across the state will be firing up their grills in the summer months to serve up delicious food for friends and families.

Everyone is drawn in by the smell of grilled food, the smoke that seems to hang over summer in a haze.

But where there is smoke, there is fire, and ACE Hardware has the information you need to keep that fire under control.

Emma Bailey, Store Manager for the Stafford Drive ACE Hardware in Princeton, said there are precautions you need to take before even turning your grill on.

“Number one, you wanna always make sure you’re reading the instruction manual, your safety manual, making sure you’re going through the steps they put in place. Making sure it’s assembled correctly,” said Bailey. “Checking for gas leaks, if it’s propane. I mean, just making sure that everything’s kind of running safely.”

Bailey said double-checking everything before you get started can prevent a lot of the unexpected issues that can be caused by a faulty grill.

It is also important to never leave your grill unattended, especially if there are children around.

After you’ve polished off that last hotdog, Bailey said there are still a few things to do to make sure you won’t have any accidents.

“In general, just make sure you have a fire extinguisher near, always keep one just in case, you never know what’s gonna happen,” said Bailey. “Making sure to turn off your propane afterwards, or making sure your fire dies, with which whatever you’re using.”

That advice applies for both charcoal and wood pellet grills.

If you are ever experiencing a grease fire, DO NOT use water to put it out. Instead, douse the flames with baking soda, sand, or kosher salt.

You can also close the grill’s hood and vents in order to starve the fire of oxygen.

The firefighters at the Princeton Fire Department agree.

Colton Morgan, a Firefighter and EMT, also had a few parting tips.

“Always use your grill outdoors, clean after each use, keep a fire extinguisher nearby, check for leaks, and wear appropriate clothing,” said Morgan.

He reminded everyone that in the case of an out of control fire, your first move should always be to call 9-1-1. That way fire departments can get to you as quickly as possible.

Following these tips can help ensure that you have a safe, fun, and delicious grilling season.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.