Home Grilling

Cooking is the biggest cause of home fires and fire injuries. You can prevent cooking fires.

Grilling fire safety tips:

  • Only use grills outdoors and away from siding and deck railings.
  • Clean grills often and remove grease or fat build-up.
  • Make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting.
  • Have a 3-foot safe-zone around grills and campfires. Keep kids and pets away from the area.
  • Dispose of coals after they have cooled in a metal can.
  • Never leave grills, fire pits, and patio torches unattended.

Did You Know?

  • It is illegal to have a grill on an apartment balcony in San Marcos.
    • Ordinance No. 2015-10, Section 308.1.4 Outdoor Cooking.
      It is unlawful to use or to store a charcoal burner, open flame, LP gas burner, outdoor grill, barbecue, or other outdoor cooking appliance with open flame on the premises of a residential building with three or more dwelling units or of a multifamily residential building with two or more stories. The provision does not apply to the use of permanently mounted outdoor cooking devices located ten or more feet from any structure.
  • Grill fires cause an estimated $37 million in property loss each year.
  • Almost half of home grill fires happen between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  • Patios, terraces, screened-in porches, and courtyards are leading home locations for grill fires.

Grilling Fire Safety Flyers