With several days of sunshine in order across Vancouver Island to wind down spring, some fair-weather grill-masters are dusting off the barbecue for the season.
Warmer days frequently lead to more grilling at home, which subsequently spurs more calls to Greater Victoria fire departments. That can be simply smoke, or something far more dangerous.
One of the early calls of his career was such a call, recalled Mike Simpson, assistant chief for Saanich Fire Department. It was a deck fire as a direct result of a barbecue, that may once have stood clear of everything, but had been pushed back too close to a wall.
That kind of fire is something they still see.
“We do get calls essentially where there is a bunch of smoke coming from someone’s backyard,” Simpson said, noting that’s frequently just cooking. “With the way our summers have gone here in B.C. in the last 10 years, people are on a more heightened alert for these types of things.”
They also get a couple calls each year where a deck or home is in flames because of a barbecue.
Often, the whole unit is just stuffed away, or put under cover in the fall, then hauled out in spring.
Ensuring it’s clean is “certainly a good start,” Simpson said. But giving it a once-over is just as important, according to both Simpson, and his counterpart at Esquimalt Fire, Assistant Chief Neal Widdifield.
The Esquimalt firefighter suggests a good soapy water solution, poured or sprayed on connections.
“It’ll bubble up if there’s a leak,” Widdifield said.
Make sure all the holes in the interior are clear and not a “big torch” in some areas and clogged in others.
Once it’s clean and in working order, ensure there’s good clearance, keeping it away from a wall, fence, railing or furniture, so air can get around it.
“Generally, I think they start out that way, then they don’t want the barbecue in the way, and push it up against the house. As the summer goes along, we maybe don’t pull it away when we start to cook, and that’s where we can get into some trouble,” Simpson said.
Meat masters and vegan explorers alike need to stick around while cooking.
“It’s really important to stay around the barbecue, and not just have it going and go back into the kitchen or yard. It’s important to keep that grill attended to,” Simpson said. “It only takes one time to make that mistake.”
Other general safety reminders include making a family escape plan in general and having working smoke alarms. Don’t store things under the deck, keep any fire load away from the house, and have a street address marker where it can be seen day or night.
“As we get into the summer months, make sure the gutters are cleared out and the roofs are clean,” Simpson added. “Those are easy things people can do.”
Summer officially starts June 20, prompting other season reminders – smoking materials and glass can start devastating grass, mulch and hedge fires.
Beach fires are also banned across the Capital Regional District at all times, but that doesn’t stop firefighters in each of the coastal communities from being called out for them routinely. Victoria Fire Department has already doused one significant fire adjacent to Dallas Road this year. Some municipalities, such as Saanich and Oak Bay, allow for propane fire pits on the beach – some require a permit. When in doubt, check with the local fire authorities.
