With Memorial Day weekend here and temperatures increasing, fire officials want residents to be safe and take precautions while cooking on a grill or being outside.
“We just want everyone to be safe. We love talking to you, not about you,” said Michael Meyers, the Augusta Fire Department’s public information officer.
According to Wallethub, about 60 percent of Americans plan to barbecue over the weekend. Meyers encourages people to be alert to fire dangers if they are planning to cook outside or inside.
“Don’t leave food on a grill or anywhere unattended. Whether you are cooking outside or inside, always pay attention to what is going on,” he said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, an average of 10,200 home fires are started by grills each year, with May among the top three peak months. Meyers said the type of grill doesn’t matter because anything that produces high heat can be dangerous, if you are not paying attention.