Grilling can be a fun way to prepare a delicious meal, but it comes with added risks for fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, grills account for 1,100 home fires each year nationally. July is the peak month for grilling-related fires. Ainsworth Fire Chief Waylon Schultz says a little bit of preparation and foresight can go a long way, “When it comes to grilling, a lot of people have their grills on their decks. Just make sure to have grease pans and stuff like that cleaned out before you start grilling, so they don’t fill up and then spill out onto the wood of the deck. Don’t have the grill right up next to the house. Have it out a ways so if it does flame up when you’re not standing right there, it doesn’t catch the siding.” In addition to the property damage risks of fires, 19,000 people annually require emergency room visits to treat burns and injuries caused by grills.