Garage Doors, BBQ Grills, and Emergency Numbers

Emerson's Safety Committee has passed along some guidance:

• Make sure your garage doors are closed at night. Howard County Police advise that open garage doors attract opportunistic crime. Talk to your neighbors about closing each other's doors if you see them open late at night.
• Some playgrounds have been vandalized in the Laurel area. Please keep a watch out.
• As the summer grilling season heats up, please read the safety tips below. 
• Please only call 911 if you have an emergency that requires the immediate dispatch of public safety personnel (Police, Sheriff's Deputies, Fire/EMS/Ambulance). 
• For Non-Emergency situations please call 410-313-2200 (for example, for loud music, public disturbances, property damage, recent property theft, vandalism when the suspect is gone, vehicle blocking a driveway or street).
• Both numbers go to the same call center (the Howard County Public Safety Communications 911 Center). But please don't block 911 with non-essential calls -- someone may need to get through with a life-threatening situation.

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Fire Safety Tips for Barbecue Grills

With Memorial Day cookouts soon approaching, the Emerson Community Safety Committee would like to share a few tips that will make using your barbecue grill a fire-safe and enjoyable experience.

Americans purchase more than 200,000 barbecue grills every year and, on most nice summer days, some four million barbecue grills are in use in the United States. Because they are easy to use, homeowners sometimes take these appliances for granted. 

Many times, grills are not inspected, maintained, used and/or stored in a safe and appropriate fashion. 

The following are some common manufacturer's recommendations. Consult your individual manufacturer's owner’s manual for specific details.

• When assembling a new propane barbecue unit, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Leak test all the fittings that run from the propane tank to the barbecue grill. Gas leaks will lead to severe fires.

• Store, transport and use propane cylinders only in the upright, vertical position. When transporting a cylinder in a vehicle, secure it in an upright position, making certain it will not tip over, and leave your trunk or vehicle windows open for ventilation. 

• Check the tank collar for the date of manufacture or the latest inspection. All propane tanks must be inspected and re-certified every 10 years.

• When lighting a gas barbecue grill without a built-in 'igniter,' have the match or lighter already burning and the lid of the grill open before you light the barbecue. 

• Be cautious of wearing loose clothing while lighting or using the grill. Loose clothing can be easily ignited and cause serious injuries and burns.

• Do not leave the grill unattended or move the grill until the fire has completely burned out and the grill is cool. For propane grills, turn off both the barbecue gas control valve(s) and the propane cylinder valve.

• Do not use barbecues indoors! If used indoors, toxic carbon monoxide fumes can accumulate and cause bodily injury or death.

• Position the grill at least 10 feet away from any combustible material including buildings, wooden decks, furniture, vinyl siding, plants, and overhead combustible construction such as overhangs to the house, combustible canopies, and gazebos. Hot gases and/or coals from the grill can ignite combustible materials.

• Position the grill so the wind cannot carry ashes to combustible surfaces.

• A competent person should constantly attend all barbecues until the fire has been extinguished. The fire attendant should be equipped with a charged fire extinguisher. Fires are easily extinguished in the early stages of fire development. Readily available fire extinguishment equipment can help prevent a major fire from occurring.

• Thoroughly clean your barbecue grill on a regular basis. Aside from the health issues, a barbecue grill full of greasy buildup can create an unwanted flare up.