Lenexa issues Memorial Day grilling safety

The Lenexa Fire Department used the Memorial Day weekend to push residents toward a short list of backyard safety checks before firing up grills and fire pits. A May 23 post highlighted spacing, supervision and cleanup as the main themes as outdoor gatherings picked up across the Kansas City suburb. KCTV5 reported the advisory the same day, tying it to the holiday weekend and the start of heavier grilling season. Lenexa, Kansas, also keeps its fire-pit and grill rules posted on the city website. ### What exactly did Lenexa tell residents to do before grilling? Lenexa’s city guidance says grills should be used only outdoors and should have a 3-foot safety zone to keep children and pets back. The city also says residents should keep grills at least 10 feet from siding, deck rails and eaves, and should not walk away from grills, fire pits or patio torches when they are lit. (msn.com) The city’s grill page also tells residents to open a gas grill before lighting it and to clean the grill after each use to remove grease. After charcoal grilling, the city says cooled coals should go into a metal can because charcoal can stay hot enough to start a fire for more than 24 hours. ### What are Lenexa’s rules for fire pits and chimineas? (lenexa.com) Lenexa’s website says recreational burning and portable outdoor fireplaces at one- and two-family homes do not require a permit if residents follow the listed requirements. Those fires must be contained in a fire pit or protected by a metal, stone or concrete barrier, and only traditional firewood may be burned. (lenexa.com) The city says portable outdoor fireplaces must follow manufacturer instructions, flammable liquid cannot be used to ignite the fire, and the burn pile cannot exceed 2 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. The fire pit also must be covered by a spark screen or protective mesh screen, and the fire must be attended at all times. ### How far from the house does Lenexa require these setups to be? (lenexa.com) Lenexa’s fire-pit rules say recreational burning and portable outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 feet from structures, vehicles or combustible materials. The same page sets a different distance for grills, saying they should be kept at least 10 feet from siding, deck rails and eaves. (lenexa.com) KCTV5’s May 23 report said the department also reminded residents to check that the area around a fire pit is clear and to keep water nearby before lighting it. That local report matched the city’s broader emphasis on spacing, supervision and spark control. ### Why are fire officials stressing this over Memorial Day weekend? (lenexa.com) The National Fire Protection Association says May, June, July and August account for a large share of grill fires, with May representing 13% of annual grill fires in 2020-2024 averages. NFPA says gas grills were involved in an average of 9,235 home fires per year during that period, and about one-fifth of fires involved grills that had not been cleaned. (msn.com) NFPA also says a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard and recommends keeping children and pets at least 3 feet from the grilling area. The group advises checking propane tanks for leaks, keeping grills clean and never leaving a grill unattended while in use. ### What should Lenexa residents check before the next cookout? Lenexa’s published guidance gives residents a short checklist: use the grill outside, keep distance from the house, open the lid before lighting a gas grill, and stay with the flame. (nfpa.org) For fire pits, the city says to use only traditional firewood, keep the fire screened and maintain the required 15-foot clearance from structures, vehicles and combustible materials. The city’s fire-pit and grill page remains available on Lenexa’s website as Memorial Day gatherings continue through May 25. KCTV5’s May 23 report said the reminders were issued as the outdoor season heats up, and the same city page says the fire chief can temporarily prohibit recreational burning when weather conditions warrant. (msn.com) (lenexa.com)