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Six important BBQ safety tips

Grilling is certainly up there with baseball and apple pie as one of America's favorite pastimes. However, it can also be a huge home fire hazard. In fact, between the years of 2003-2006, U.S. fire departments reported 7,900 home fires resulting from grills and barbecues per year.

With Memorial Day right around the corner, if you're planning on joining in the fun and breaking out the grill, first read through these safety tips from the Home Safety Council:

1. Designate the grilling area a "No Play Zone" -- keep the kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
   
   
2. Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
   
   
3. Only use starter fluid made for barbeque grills when starting a fire in a charcol grill.
   
   
4. Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
   
   
5. Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
   
   
6. Never bring a barbecue grill indoors or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

WHN TIP: Clean Up

Cleaning up after grilling? Don't put the coals in a paper or plastic bag. It's a major fire hazard -- no matter how cool you think the coals are, they're not. I did this, the bag caught fire and nearly set my porch on fire. -- Reader who requested his name not be used (still lives in the apt.)