Barbeque Safety

June 1, 2010

Fire Officials Urge Caution in the Storage and use of Propane Barbecues Following Serious Accident

The London Fire Department responded to an explosion in a Sunrise Crescent home early Monday in which a male was badly injured.

A joint investigation is currently underway by the Office of the Fire Marshal and the London Fire Department. Preliminary findings indicate that the explosion and fire may have resulted due to improper use of a propane barbecue.

It is highly stressed that you:

• Store and use your barbecue outdoors in a well-ventilated area clear of the house, windows, or doors and far from anything that might obstruct the flow of air around the grill.
• Ensure the propane cylinder is secure, upright, and least three metres (10 feet) away from other sources of heat or ignition.
• Always open the barbecue lid before lighting the burner.
• Use the service valve on the propane cylinder to turn on the gas supply. Next, turn on the burner and immediately use the igniter switch. If it doesn’t start within 5 seconds, turn off the burner, open the lid and wait 60 seconds before retrying.
• When finished with the barbecue, turn off the service valve first to ensure there is no propane left in the hose; once the flame goes out, close the burner control valves.
• Make sure the gas grill is shut off and has cooled completely before covering it.
• Never use matches or lighters to check for propane leaks.
• To check for leaks, brush a mixture of 50% liquid soap and 50% water onto all connections and valves. If rising bubbles appears, you have a leak.
• Check your connections and test again. If leak continues, shut off the service valve and contact a qualified service technician.

For further information,

Deputy Chief Dan Oldridge
519-661-2500 x6514