Memorial Day barbecues may very well be the perfect time to kick back and relax, but don't forget about safety. Fire is always something that's going to happen to someone else. Keith Roper, public education and information officer for the Corpus Christi Fire Department.
Most fire safety is just common sense.
Don't take safety for granted. When lighting the pit, never use anything other than a lighter or starter fluid. Gasoline is extremely explosive and should never be used to light a fire. If the flames get out of control, the best remedy is to put a lid on it. The lack of oxygen eventually will force the fire to go down, Roper said.