Safety paramount when it comes to barbecuing Published April 13, 2007 By Tyler Hemstreet 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- As the days begin to grow longer and the weather starts to turn warmer, more and more people will start filling up their propane tanks, stocking up on charcoal and dusting off their barbecues. While the focus of each barbecue will likely be on cooking meat on the grill and catching up with friends, barbecue safety must also be taken into account, said assistant chief of fire prevention Sandra Cooper, 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron. In base housing, barbecuing is not allowed on landings, in exit ways, under stairs, on fire escapes, overhangs, covered patios or within 10 feet of any building, according to 62nd Airlift Wing Instruction 32-17, Base Fire Prevention Program. People should also avoid barbecuing under their carport, Chief Cooper said. "As heat rises from the barbecue, it can dry the wood in the carport," she said. "Once the wood is sufficiently dried, it could ignite." The bottom line is people need to be aware of their surroundings when firing up the barbecue, Chief Cooper said. "When barbecuing in the backyard or at the park, it's possible to be 10 feet away from an overhang but still under a tree, which is also dangerous," she said. Proper disposal of charcoal is also important when it comes to staying safe. Wetting down the charcoal before disposing of it is the safest method, Chief Cooper said. When it comes to lighting the charcoal, it is best to saturate the briquettes with lighter fluid and then put the fluid away, Chief Cooper said. "By putting the fluid away, you keep it away from children and away from the heat of the barbecue," she said. People must also keep a fire extinguisher nearby when barbecuing, according to the wing instruction.