Grill Fires: Big Home Hazard

One of the joys of summer is outdoor grilling, but summer is also the peak season for fires sparked by backyard grills.

Eight thousand grill fires occur in the United States each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association, causing $80 million in property damage.

The reason?

"Early Show" consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen said a common mistake is placing grills too close to the house. Koeppen burned down a mock house on "The Early Show" Wednesday to show just how easily a grill fire can spread to a structure.

Her fire demonstration, hosted by Underwriters Laboratories, showed how an unattended grill can get out of control.

Koeppen pointed out that, in just a few moments, the hamburgers on the grill started to flare up, a hanging plant caught fire, flames spread to the deck, furniture started to burn, and the siding melted. Eventually, she said, the entire side of the mock house was on fire.

John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety at Underwriters Laboratories, told Koeppen, "(People can lose) a house, or at least part of a house, because of a grill. And that's why it's so important to keep the grill away from the house, the garage, carport."

Drengenberg added grills should be kept 10 feet from the house, and three feet from flammable objects.

Koeppen said gas grills are the most common source of grill fires. People are five times more likely to have a fire with a gas grill, according to the NFPA, than with a charcoal one.

Koeppen added you should also check if your grill is working properly at the start of the season. She said grillers should be on the lookout for breaks or leaks in grills -- the leading factor in grill fires. Inspect tubes, she said, and look for cracks and rust.

Koeppen also recommended cleaning your grill, making sure any debris from the previous year is gone before lighting up anew.