Capitol Hill, watch your grills. A third bbq-related in a Capitol Hill area multi-family building in three days was being attended to Tuesday afternoon as fire crews responded to a building at the northwest corner of Bellevue Ave E and E Thomas.
We’re told the 12:17p callout was related to a rooftop fire started by a grill that was mostly in hand within minutes of crews arriving but that required a little extra effort when more embers were found on the roof.
Monday night, crews took care of a small fire on a sixth-floor balcony of a condo building near Seattle U. Saturday, they dispatched of a Bellevue balcony fire.
We’re checking with Seattle Fire on the legality of barbecuing on the balconies or roofs of the Hill’s apartment buildings. In the meantime, we hope future essays on dense urban living include discussions of the pros and cons of hibachi.
It’s been fire truck central at least three times in the past week or so and in such a small stretch of the street.
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubed/brochures/Outdoor%20Grilli
“The use of barbecues in apartments, condominiums and singlefamily homes is not regulated by current Washington State law. The Seattle Fire Department recommends the use of one-pound propane cylinders as the least hazardous fuel source, particularly on decks of multi-family residences.
However, apartment building owners and condominium associations, through lease agreements and owner’s association rules, may still prohibit or restrict use of barbecues.”
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Stick-a-fork-in-it-Gr
based on the fire regs, the grills that have caused the last three fires are all illegal as hell.
Since 2004 the state fire regulates grills as follows:
In dwellings of more than 2 units open flame grills (wood, charcoal and so forth) are prohibited. Gas powered grills using cylinders larger than 2.5 pounds are prohibited. Gas grills using the non- refillable 1pound style cylinders are allowed. Electric grills are allowed.
Exceptions: The above are allowed if deck or patio is sprinklered. The above are allowed if there is a minimum of 10 feet of clearance from combustible materials.
Here’s why it is a big deal. Insurance companies have the right to refuse to pay a claim if a fire is caused by a prohibited grill. They MIGHT pay, but they do not have to.
To my knowledge, the city has no additional outdoor grill regs.
I used to live in this building (The Carole) and they let us go up on the roof, there was a wood deck up there with a great view of the city, but the rule was no BBQ’s. I can’t imagine that they changed it since I left.
I understand regulating wood frame and wood balconies. But I’ve responsibly used at bbq for 20 years on my concrete balcony attached to a concrete and steel building. All balconies and situations are not the same. We are way too regulated as it is.
Because you obviously can’t trust your retarded fellow tenants.