Backyard grills, campfires and fireworks will be part of Fourth of July weekend across the Finger Lakes and Central New York, but officials say the holiday also brings one of the busiest stretches of the year for preventable fires and injuries.
The risks are familiar: Hot grills too close to homes, sparklers in children’s hands, fireworks set off near dry grass, and food left outside too long during summer heat.
Grilling fires peak during summer months
July is one of the highest-risk months of the year for grill fires, according to national fire safety data, and the concern is especially relevant during holiday weekends when people are cooking outside, hosting larger gatherings and moving grills into tight spaces on decks, patios and porches.
Fire officials recommend keeping grills at least several feet away from siding, deck railings, roof overhangs, garages, sheds and outdoor furniture. Grills should only be used outdoors and should never be operated inside a garage, under a tent, on an enclosed porch or near an open window.
Gas grills should be checked before use, especially if they have been sitting unused. A simple soap-and-water solution can help reveal leaks around hoses and connections. If bubbles form, the grill should not be used until the leak is fixed.
Charcoal grills bring a different set of risks. Lighter fluid should never be added once coals are already burning, and hot ashes should be allowed to cool completely before disposal. Ashes should be placed in a metal container, not a plastic trash bin or paper bag.
The most common mistake is also the simplest: leaving the grill unattended. A flare-up can become a deck fire quickly, especially when grease, dry leaves, propane tanks or patio furniture are nearby.
Food safety matters in hot weather
Holiday cookouts also bring a food safety risk, especially when meats, salads and side dishes sit out in warm temperatures for hours.
The basic rule is simple: keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours, and that window drops to one hour when temperatures climb above 90 degrees.
A food thermometer is the safest way to know whether grilled food is fully cooked. Ground beef and other ground meats should reach 160 degrees. Poultry should reach 165 degrees. Whole cuts of beef, pork, lamb and veal should reach 145 degrees, followed by a three-minute rest.
Color is not enough. Burgers can brown before reaching a safe internal temperature, and chicken can look cooked before bacteria have been killed.
Cross-contamination is another common problem. Raw meat should stay separate from ready-to-eat foods, and the same plate or tongs used for raw burgers, chicken or steaks should not be used again unless washed first.
For large gatherings, coolers should be packed with enough ice or cold packs to keep food at 40 degrees or below. Leftovers should be refrigerated quickly, not left on picnic tables while fireworks begin.
Most fireworks remain illegal in New York
New York’s fireworks laws are stricter than many people realize.
Consumer fireworks such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and aerial fireworks are illegal for private use in New York. The limited exception is for legal sparkling devices in counties and cities that have not opted out under state law.
Sparkling devices are ground-based or handheld devices that produce colored sparks or a small flame. They do not include firecrackers, bottle rockets, reloadable shells, aerial devices or anything that explodes or launches into the air.
Across much of the Finger Lakes and Central New York, legal sparkling devices may be sold and used where local governments have not prohibited them. However, residents should check local rules before buying or using them, because counties and cities can impose their own restrictions.
Even legal devices can cause serious injuries. Sparklers can burn at about 2,000 degrees, hot enough to cause severe burns and ignite clothing, grass or paper. They should not be treated as toys, and young children should not handle them.
Officials recommend attending public fireworks displays instead of using fireworks at home. Professional shows are planned, permitted and handled by trained operators with fire safety measures in place.
How to reduce risk at home
For people who use legal sparkling devices, the safety rules are straightforward: use them outside, keep them away from people and structures, and have water nearby.
Devices should be lit one at a time, then the person lighting them should move away immediately. Anyone using them should remain sober and should never point, throw or hold a lit device near another person.
Duds should never be relit. If a device fails to work, it should be left alone for at least 20 minutes, then soaked in water before being thrown away.
Used devices should also be soaked before disposal. Placing hot fireworks debris in a trash can can start a fire hours after a gathering appears to be over.
The same caution applies to campfires and fire pits. New York allows small cooking fires and campfires in many situations, but fires should stay contained, attended and fully extinguished before people leave. Only charcoal or clean, dry, untreated and unpainted wood should be burned.
Pets, veterans and neighbors should also be considered. Sudden fireworks noise can scare animals, disturb people with sensory sensitivities and create unnecessary calls for emergency responders when fireworks are mistaken for explosions or gunfire.
For families across the Finger Lakes and Central New York, the safest Fourth of July weekend is not complicated: keep grills away from buildings, supervise children, follow local fireworks laws, use a thermometer, keep water nearby and leave the biggest fireworks to the professionals.
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