As the weather slowly heats up so do our grills and the now popular smokers.
Smokers on the Rise
“We have seen an increase in smokers. We’ve started carrying a lot more within the recent months and they’ve been taking off really well,” said Joe Lepsi, a shift leader at Buikema’s Ace Hardware.
And as more folks are purchasing smokers, it’s important to know how to use them safely.
Safety First
From propane and charcoal to wood chips or electric, no matter what fuels the fire, the key to outdoor cooking safety is keeping the equipment clean.
“Obviously there’s an open flame on many of these and what happens is if the grill’s not clean the grease gets close to the flame and starts a fire,” said Bureau Chief Tom Moran from the Naperville Fire Department. “So the best method to prevent that is to keep the grill clean, and or the smoker, whatever you have. And that’s on a regular occasion.”
Chief Moran also says to keep your grill or smoker at least 10 feet away from your home.
And always follow the specific safety instructions in the owner’s manual.
Chief Moran says by July, the fire department averages at least one grill or smoker fire every day.
More tips for grill and smoker safety can be found on the Naperville Fire Department’s website.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
