Before firing up the grill this summer season, the DCA Division of Fire Safety strongly recommends people review tips for safe grilling to avoid injury. Most households use propane grills for outdoor cooking. When preparing to use the grill for the first time this season, never use matches or lighters to check for leaks. Instead, apply a thick soapy water or leak-detection solution around the connection between the propane cylinder and grill hose. Bubbles will form if propane is escaping. If a grill has a gas leak, call the local fire department.

Both gas and charcoal grills should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas. Avoid grilling on porches, in garages, or on an apartment terrace. Coals should be allowed to cool completely before a grill is brought indoors or into a camper to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Additional tips for fire safe summer cookouts.

• Keep the top open when lighting a grill;

• Use or store propane cylinders outdoors in an upright (vertical) position and away from high temperatures;

• Extinguish all smoking materials and other open flames immediately if gas is smelled;

• Ask the propane vendor to check for any rust, physical damage or metal corrosion on the cylinder;

• Transport cylinders in well-ventilated areas of vehicles and drive directly to the destination where it will be used;

• Avoid smoking while handling a propane cylinder; and

• Make sure cylinders have an overfill prevention device (OPD), which shuts off the flow of propane before capacity is reached (OPDs are easily identified by their triangular-shaped hand wheel);