RTA Outdoor Living flags 7 cookout safety risks ahead of July 4

RTA Outdoor Living is urging homeowners to check grills, personal safety hazards and outdoor kitchen structures before Fourth of July cookouts, as July is the peak month for grill fires. The company says one often-missed risk is whether decks and patios can support the weight of an outdoor kitchen island plus guests.

Why it matters: - July is the peak month for grill fires, making holiday cookouts a higher-risk time for backyard injuries and property damage. - U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated 10,600 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues each year. - Outdoor kitchens add heat, weight, weather exposure and guest traffic to a setup that many homeowners may not evaluate like a structural project.

What happened: - RTA Outdoor Living released a 7-point safety check for Fourth of July cookouts. - The guidance groups outdoor kitchen safety into three categories: grill risks, personal safety risks and one structural risk. - James King, vice president of design at RTA Outdoor Living, said the safest setup is one where the grill, appliances, ventilation, surrounding materials and support structure all work together.

The details: - The Big 3 Grill Risks are heat, gas and grease. - Heat safety means keeping the grill and hot surfaces away from tablecloths, decorations, inflatables and other materials that can melt or catch fire. - Gas safety means using grills only in open, well-ventilated areas and never blocking appliance vents. - If a gas smell is present, the appliance and gas supply should be turned off immediately, and the grill should not be relit until the problem has been checked. - Grease safety means cleaning grates and emptying grease trays before the cookout. - Built-up grease is the single most common cause of flare-ups. - The three personal safety risks are burns, flare-ups and an unattended grill. - Burn prevention starts with a clear no-go zone for kids and pets around hot surfaces. - Long-handled tools reduce the need to reach near heat. - For flare-ups, food should be moved away from flames when safe, and burners should be turned off if needed. - Water should never be poured on a grease fire. - A proper fire extinguisher should be nearby, and the fire department should be called if flames spread or do not die down quickly. - RTA warns that even a short break to watch fireworks can be long enough for a small flare-up to become a serious fire. - One person should stay near the grill while it is lit. - The overlooked structural risk is what sits underneath the outdoor kitchen. - Decks and patios may not be built to hold the weight of a fully loaded outdoor kitchen island, much less a crowd of guests around it. - Homeowners should confirm that the structure can support the added weight of the island, appliances, counters and guests before placing an outdoor kitchen on a deck or elevated surface. - A qualified contractor or structural professional should evaluate the setup when there is any doubt. - RTA Outdoor Living offers a free downloadable Outdoor Kitchen Safety Checklist and webinar at rtaoutdoorliving.com/safety.

Between the lines: - The message goes beyond grill handling and shifts attention to the entire outdoor kitchen system, including the surface it sits on. - That framing suggests many holiday safety checklists may miss the load-bearing and placement issues that can matter just as much as fire hazards. - By bundling the advice into seven simple risks, RTA Outdoor Living is making the guidance easier to use quickly before a holiday gathering.

What's next: - Homeowners planning July 4 cookouts can use the checklist and webinar to review their setup before guests arrive. - Deck and patio owners with heavier outdoor kitchen installations may need a contractor or structural review before hosting. - The company says the same safety principles apply to any time the grill is in use, not just the holiday weekend.

The bottom line: - A safe cookout depends on more than keeping an eye on the flames. - RTA Outdoor Living says the full setup, including ventilation and the structure below the kitchen, needs to be checked before the grill is lit.