We were sitting on the veranda when the gas grill suddenly caught fire: we were all terrified when we found out the cause of the fire 

That day, the whole family had gathered at Grandma’s — we hadn’t had such a warm get-together in a long time. We arrived early in the morning: we, the children and grandchildren, spread out in the garden, some were helping to set the table, others were busy in the kitchen.

The atmosphere was wonderful. Grandma was glowing — she’s always happy when her grandchildren are around. We decided to grill some meat — like in the good old days.

Dad and my brother brought out the marinated meat we had soaked the night before: with rosemary, garlic, and olive oil. Someone else was chopping vegetables — bell peppers, zucchini, corn — and all of that went on the grill too. The aroma was amazing, the kids were running around the garden, the adults were chatting, laughing, reminiscing about childhood and funny family stories.

As the sun began to set, we cleared the grill, cleaned everything, and gathered on the veranda for coffee. Grandma brought out her signature pastries, we sat in a circle, quietly chatting and enjoying the warm evening.

And suddenly… a smell. Sharp, burnt. We turned around — and saw thick black smoke coming out of the grill. A second later — flames! Real fire bursting out from under the lid.

Grandma froze in fear. She sat with her hands clutched to her chest, unable to move. But we reacted quickly — one of us ran to shut off the electricity, another called the fire department, and a third grabbed the fire extinguisher that, fortunately, was hanging by the door.

When the firefighters finally arrived, inspected the grill, and explained what caused the fire, we were all horrified.  I’m sharing this with you so you can be extra careful too. More details in the first comment 

When the firefighters arrived and examined the grill, they immediately said the cause was improper cleaning and a buildup of grease inside the body.

We were shocked. It turned out that even if the grill looks clean on the outside, grease and food residue can accumulate inside — especially in the tray beneath the burners.

During the next use, or if the lid remains closed, this can easily catch fire.

The firefighters explained that incidents like this happen often, especially in summer when many people use gas and electric grills.

If you don’t clean it regularly, the grease can ignite and the internal temperature can rise rapidly. This can lead not only to a fire but even to a gas tank explosion if it’s a gas grill.

Luckily, no one was hurt. But we were shaken. And now, before turning on the grill again, we always make sure to inspect and clean it thoroughly.

We shared this story with you so you can stay safe. Technology is convenient and delicious — but only if you follow safety rules.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones