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Wildfire Prevention Tips

Outdoor Grilling Safety

Learn how to properly extinguish charcoal when grilling.

Smoldering charcoal can start a fire if not extinguished or disposed of carefully.

Lit grill with charcoals

FEATURED TIP

It takes more than just water to extinguish hot coals. Make sure you're prepared to follow the drown, stir, drown, feel method, and toss your cooled and wrapped up coals in metal containers.

Outdoor Grilling Safety Guide

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Plan Ahead

Prepare before you start using charcoal grills outdoors

Step 01 What You’ll Need

  • Make sure to have the right items on hand

    Tools: Water, metal bucket or container, aluminum foil, and a stirring utensil, such as metal tongs

    • Use a hot coals container like this for disposal if available on your public lands

    Cellphone: Call 911 immediately in case of emergency — if embers fly out of the charcoal grate and catch surrounding vegetation on fire.

Bucket, aluminum foil, and metal tongs

Step 02 Know Before You Go

  • Call or check online for grilling restrictions

    Search for ‘outdoor campfire restrictions’ followed by your location, local parks and recreation organization, or public lands agency.

    Don’t use charcoal grills if a campground, area, or event rules prohibit them.

  • Check the weather

    Don’t use charcoal grills in hazardous, dry, or windy conditions.

  • Check the grill type

    If available, opt to use a propane or electric grill instead of a charcoal grill. These types of grills are safer, as they don’t typically spread embers the way charcoal grills do.

Sign with a fire danger indicator and “HIGH WIND” symbols. Smart phone to look up fire restrictions.

Stay Safe

Be careful when grilling

Step 03 Maintain the Surrounding Area

  • Keep away from flammable objects

    Whether using a charcoal, electric, or propane grill, make sure flammable objects and tree overhangs are at least 3 feet away from the grill.

Flammable objects and tree overhangs shown 3 feet away from the grill

Step 04 Keep an Eye On It

  • Never leave the grill unattended

    Always be vigilant around your grill — don’t play around, and keep an eye on children and pets.

Watch your grill

Extinguish Your Coals

If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave

Step 05 Drown, Stir, Drown, Feel

  • Drown

    Pour lots of water on the coals until the hissing sound stops, drowning all the embers. Let coals cool down before handling. 

  • Stir

    Use your utensil to stir the water with the coals and mix well until no embers are exposed or smoldering, not just the red ones.

  • Drown

    Continue adding water until all coals are cool.

  • Feel

    Hover the back of your hand over the coals to feel the embers are cool — don’t leave without making sure your fire is entirely out.

Drown, stir, drown, and feel to fully put out your hot coals

Dispose Coals Safely

Pack it in, Pack it out

Step 06 Properly Dispose of Coals

  • Wrap coals in foil

    When the ash has completely cooled off, wrap coals in aluminum foil.

  • Dispose safely in the correct bins

    Once you have made sure coals are completely cooled off and wrapped up, dispose in a non-combustible outdoor trash bin, not on the ground.

    If using a personal metal container, cover with a lid and pack out what you carry in.

    If using a large public bin, carefully place the wrapped coals into the bin.

Cooled off coals wrapped in aluminum foil and disposed in the correct outdoor trash bin

Learn more wildfire prevention tips

While at home or spending time outdoors, follow these important safety tips to prevent an unintended wildfire.