Fire Officials: Unattended BBQ + Belmont Winds = Disaster

With the official three-day weekend kick off to summer looming, the Belmont Fire Department reminds residents of the dangerous combo of unattended barbeque grills and wind.   

Case in point is a residential fire that occurred on Tuesday on a backyard deck.

Police say that at about 2:00 p.m. a resident on Alomar Way reported a fire in the backyard of the home in the 1900 block of El Verano Way. Upon arrival, firefighters found the resident attempting to use a garden hose to extinguish the fire.   

The fire, which damaged a deck, landscaping and a fence, was extinguished quickly and firefighters from the Belmont and Foster City Fire Departments remained on scene for approximately an hour.  According to the resident, he had been cooking on his barbeque and went inside for a few minutes.  When he returned, he found that the wind had blown the barbeque over and started the fire.  There were no injuries.   

As the summer months commence, the Belmont Fire Department is reminding residents not to leave barbeques unattended while cooking, and they offer a few tips regarding barbeque safety:   

• Before using a grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. Make sure the tubes where the air and gas mix are not blocked.
• Do not overfill the propane tank. 
• Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue.
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and explode.
• Keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Supervise children around outdoor grills.
• Dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers. 
• Never grill/barbecue in enclosed areas - carbon monoxide could be produced. 
• Make sure everyone knows to Stop, Drop and Roll in case a piece of clothing does catch fire. Call 911 or your local emergency number if a burn warrants serious medical attention.