“While grilling is an enjoyable seasonal outdoor activity, people need to be aware of its potential dangers,” says Joyce Cavanagh, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist in family and community health, Bryan-College Station.

Cavanagh says the most typical type of injury is a contact-type burn, which occurs when someone bumps into or touches a hot grill or coal: “A grilling accident can also cause external fires that can injure people and cause serious property damage.”

To avoid that and other mishaps, here are some grilling tips and fire safety measures suggested by AgriLife Today and National Fire Protection Association:

Fire Facts And Grilling Tips

– Set up the grill on a concrete surface or the ground where grass and vegetation in the area are trimmed and where no dry leaves, brush, mulch piles or other combustibles are nearby.

– Place the grill in an open area away from deck railings, eaves and overhanging branches or other potentially combustible surfaces.

– Check gas grills for leaks and making sure hose connections are tight.

– Set the grill at least 10 feet away from any building, and do not grill in a garage or under a carport or other surface that might catch fire.

– Keep young children and pets at least 3 feet from the grill.

– Remove any grease or fat buildup from the grill and/or in the trays below the grill.

– Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.

– Never leave the grill unattended once the fire has been lit.

– Never move a hot grill.

– Keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher within easy reach.

– Use flame-retardant mitts and grilling tools with long handles instead of household forks or short-handled tongs.

– Let coals completely cool before disposing of them, and use a metal container for disposal.