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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Safe grilling tips Keep the grill or barbecue away from buildings, fences, railings or any other combustible materials. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Don't wear lose clothing. Tie back long hair. Never barbecue indoors. Charcoal and propane flames can emit fatal fumes. Never leave a lighted grill unattended. Use only charcoal lighter fluid to start the grill and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Don't store propane containers indoors or under the barbecue. Properly dispose of ashes. Inspect tubing on propane grills before using them. Source: Everett Fire Department and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Grill's embers destroy house After the accident in Lake Stevens, officials remind people to be careful with hot ash. By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer LAKE STEVENS -- Smoldering embers from a backyard barbecue are blamed for starting a fire early Sunday that destroyed a Lake Stevens home, fire investigators said. As the weather warms and the Memorial Day holiday approaches, fire officials are warning backyard chefs to use caution as they prepare for the first barbecue of the year. "We have to be very safety conscious," said Robert Marshall, a fire investigator with the Lake Stevens Fire District. Taking a few minutes to make sure that charcoal is out and that grills are properly used can help prevent costly or even deadly fires. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that on average a dozen people die each year across the country as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from charcoal grills used indoors. Nationwide, nearly 5,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms in 2006 with injuries from backyard grills, according to the commission. Sunday's fire started after charcoal embers apparently ignited a backyard deck and spread into the home, Marshall said. Firefighters arrived and found the home in the 1100 block of 103rd Drive SE with heavy smoke and flames coming out of the roof. The fire moved quickly from the rear of the home into the attic. Neighbors woke up the woman who rented the house and she escaped unharmed, Marshall said. Crews from Lake Stevens were helped by firefighters from Snohomish and Getchell. It took about 25 minutes to put the blaze out. The fire caused about $225,000 damage, said Mike Makela, a fire investigator with the Snohomish County Fire Marshal's Office. The woman who lived in the home did not have renter's insurance but the homeowner did have coverage for the structure, Makela said. Fires caused by barbecues can be prevented, Marshall said. "It's something that folks need to be aware of," he said. "We just have to be real cognisant about how close you are to something flammable." Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.

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