The fires resulted in an average of 10 deaths and 160 injuries a year. Outdoor grills were responsible for an average of 8,900 fires each year from 2009 to 2013, according to an association report released this year.
“We never recommend grilling under outdoor roofs,” said Nancy Schwartz, spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association. Several recent Parade of Homes models also featured such built-in grills under roofs.īut fire officials aren’t fond of them because sparks from the grill or grease fires can ignite overhead and surrounding material. Shively estimated that 90 percent of homes in a new Kentucky community he visited recently had grills under patio overhangs or in gazebos. “We’ve always had exhausts, but the fire wall was a first,” said Scott Shively, chief operating officer with the homebuilder.Īs Shively noted, built-in grills under roofs are common in new high-end homes, as owners want big outdoor kitchens protected from rain and sun. Workers spent several days adding the fire protection. The builder had installed an exhaust over the grill but was told to also build a fire wall behind the grill. One of the homes flagged by Delaware officials is a model home built by Bob Webb at its new Ravines at McCammon Chase in Lewis Center. Some will specify a hood and require clearances to combustibles.” “We’re not saying 'No.' We’re saying they need to be installed per the manufacturers' specifications. They were put in a porch, under a combustible roof, or have combustible framing material around them,” said Duane Matlack, Delaware County’s chief building official. “We’ve had multiple fires within our jurisdiction area caused by grills that were improperly installed.
Manufacturers, along with building and fire officials, are warning consumers to avoid installing the grills under roofs or next to ordinary wood decks or walls.Īt least one agency, the Delaware County Building Department, has started prohibiting built-in grills under patio roofs or next to walls without protections such as vents and fire blocks. Those big, stylish outdoor kitchens are generating a different sort of heat.
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