WILKINSBURG, Pa. -- Fire officials liken misuse of propane tanks while grilling to handling a bomb.
A fire destroyed a home in Westmoreland County's Rostraver Township on Saturday melted a fence and damaged the side of a car (
More).
By the time firefighters arrived, only the smoldering skeleton of the home remained. Investigators said they believe a gas grill's propane tank exploded, sparking the fire.
"I guess the hose was off it, and it was blowing fire up the side of the building," Rostraver Fire Chief Richard Painter said.
Nearly 14 million Americans have propane delivered to their homes, a recent statistic indicates. Additionally, that statistics indicate, 6,500 barbecue grill fires injured people, causing $27 million in damage -- two-thirds of the fires taking place in a back yard or on a patio.
WTAE Channel 4's Aaron Saykin said it is safer now to use a propane grill and store the propane tank than it was 10 years ago, but not entirely safe.
"A propane tank can be like a bomb if not used properly," Wilkinsburg Fire Chief Owen McAfee said.
McAfee has seen his share of propane-related accidents, saying the vast majority he and his crews have responded to are cooking-related, caused by grease fires on dirty grills.
"What it will do is melt the hose and then the hose fails, and then, you have a propane leak that is feeding your original grease fire," McAfee said.
If that hose running from the tank to the grill shows any sign of cracking, experts recommend changing it immediately. When finished grilling, don't just shut off the gas on the grill -- close the propane tank and try to keep it from direct sunlight, which can cause it to leak.
"Basically, I'd say 10 feet from your house is safe, or (from) anything that's combustible, anything that can catch fire," McAfee said.
Some of these rules also apply when using propane to heat the home. Experts recommend familiarizing oneself with what it smells like with the additives and make sure there are no leaks on the tank, which is more likely if it's rusty or dented.
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