Grand Forks, N.D. - AAA projects 37.2 million Americans travel 50 miles or more for the holiday weekend. Many of which will be heading to campgrounds.
Mike Graba, Fire Inspector, Grand Forks Fire Department: “Think fire safety all the time."
Firefighters at the Grand Forks Fire Department recommend making sure your grills are clean and up to par.
Graba: "Just like anything else things wear down and they break."
They say when it comes to the dangers of operating a propane grill; you always want to make sure the hoses and fittings are on tight.
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Graba: "We recommend that people take a soap solution, with soap and water and to pour it over the fittings and hose to make sure there isn't a leak, if there is a leak the bubbles will come out where that leak is at."
They say charcoal grills are less dangerous and recommend using regular cleanings to get rid of built up grease. They also recommend wearing protective gloves while barbequing and to keep children at least three feet away from the area. The also warn adults not to allow small children to watch you light any type of fire.
Graba: "Because natural curiosity, kids love fires and they are pretty and neat and we just don't want them doing it without an adult around."
They also recommend only lighting a grill when it is open, not closed off. Also, when using charcoal only use lighter fluid as a burning aid.
Graba: "Don't use gasoline; don't use any other flammable liquid to light a charcoal fire."
With the burn ban lifted, many people will resort to the past times of a campfire they say the Grand Forks city ordinance requires fires to be contained and 25 feet away from any structure or anything that could catch fire like fences.
Graba: "You can't let the fuel pile be any hire that 2 feet high and it can't be any bigger than 3 feet in circumference."
Campgrounds have their own rules about fires as well.
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Catherine Johnson, Red River Park Manager: "Just has to be in the fire ring and not too big of one."
Some other tips to keep in mind never leave fires or grills un-attended and always make sure to put out fires with water or a fire extinguisher before leaving the area.
