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Home Safety Tips

Grilling near a home or apartment building, especially with a charcoal grill on a balcony or wooden deck, puts your home, family and possessions – and those of all your neighbors – at great risk.

If you're going to cookout, don't invite tragedy or the financial ruin of legal liability.

Before You Start Grilling

  • Put your grill at least 15 feet from any building.
  • Grill only on a flat surface that can't catch fire.
  • Following these first two rules usually means not grilling on an apartment building balcony or deck - if you must grill, find a piece of lawn or parking lot away from buildings and other things that may burn.

When You Start Your Grill

  • Never use gasoline, alcohol or kerosene to start your coals.
  • Don't put more lighter fluid on the coals once they are on fire, glowing or smoldering.

When You're Done Cooking

  • Soak the coals with water.
  • Close the grill lid and any vents tightly.
  • Don't move the grill or remove the coals for 48 hours, unless you can safely move the coals into a stainless steel pail.

If You Have a Gas Grill

  • Gas grills and their gas cylinders also frequently start fires by exploding and spreading fire.
  • Never use a gas grill on any deck or patio or within three feet of a building.
  • Make sure all hose connections are tight and in good condition.
  • After grilling, close the valve on the gas cylinder.

If Your Grill Catches Fire

  • If you can get close enough without getting burned, put the lid on or shut off the gas.
  • Get completely away from the grill.
  • Activate the building's alarm system.
  • Call 911.

Be safe and be sure you have the proper insurance for your residence. Contact an American Family Insurance agent.

These recommendations were developed using generally accepted safety standards. Compliance with these recommendations is not a guarantee that you will be in conformance with any building code, federal, state or local regulation regarding safety or fire. Compliance with these recommendations does not ensure the absolute safety of your occupation, business or residence. It is the property owner’s duty to warn any tenants or occupants of the property of any safety hazards that may exist.

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