Grilling with Philadelphia's Fire Commissioner

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers teamed with Chef Jack McDavid of Jack's Firehouse Restaurant, located 2130 Fairmount Avenue, to demonstrate barbecue grilling safety tips.

The Philadelphia Fire Department wants to ensure that people practice safe barbecuing during the summer. Jack's Firehouse Restaurant, located in an historic firehouse dating back to 1902, is famous for their fine barbecue cuisine, and provides an excellent location to demonstrate the finer points of safety around the grill.

In anticipation of the large number of people expected to barbecue this summer, Commissioner Ayers will use a graphic presentation to illustrate the affects of unsafe grilling practices. During this presentation he will provide safety tips for users of charcoal and propane grills.

Fire Commissioner Ayers will also display a propane tank with an "Overfill Prevention Device", designed to prevent gas leaks. All propane tanks in use must contain an Overfill Prevention Device (OPD). These new tank valves can help prevent fires and explosions attributed to overfilled portable cooking equipment. The (OPD) will not allow gas to flow unless the tank is connected. The National Fire Protection Agency instituted the use of this new propane tank valve in 2002.

Lowe's Home Improvement Store provided the grilling equipment used in this demonstration. The Philadelphia Fire Department acknowledges their support in bringing safe products and information to Philadelphia and the surrounding area.

Commissioner Ayers and the Philadelphia Fire Department wants all Philadelphians to enjoy a safe summer grilling, and is pleased to offer this educational demonstration.

Fire Commissioner Ayers reminds everyone to follow these tips:

- Do not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
- Never, under any circumstances, should children (supervised or unsupervised) be allowed to start outdoor cooking equipment.
- Barbecue grills are not allowed on apartment building balconies or decks.
- Barbecue grills are allowed on porches and decks of one and two family homes.
- Never store a spare LPG (propane) container under or near the grill.
- Never store LPG cylinders inside your home.
- Always turn off the valves when not in use.
- When purchasing a gas grill, select one that bears the approval mark of an independent testing laboratory.
- Do not transport LPG cylinders in the trunk of a passenger vehicle.
- To guard against the possibility of damage or explosion, burners tubing, and piping should be clean and free from insects, dust and debris.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Philadelphia Fire Department
• City of Philadelphia
• Jack's Firehouse
• Ready Philadelphia
• Barbecue
• Grill
• Grilling
• Safety
• Lloyd Ayers
• Jack McDavid
• Philadelphia Fire Commissioner
• Chef Jack McDavid