Your gas grill can sit on a wooden deck — if you’re smart about it

Yes, a gas grill on a wood deck isn’t automatically a fire hazard, but you have to treat it right. The big rules aren’t complicated, they’re just easy to ignore.

First, distance. Keep that grill at least 10 feet from your house, railings, and anything that can burn. The manual might say 3 feet, but wood decks are special — embers and grease flare-ups can travel. Give yourself a buffer.

Second, put something between the grill and the deck. A grill mat (the heavy-duty fiberglass kind, not a cheap yoga mat) will catch grease drips and hot coals if they fall. Also make sure the grill’s legs sit flat — wobbly on wood is a bad combo.

Third, grease is your enemy. Clean the drip tray and burners regularly. A greasy grill on a wood deck is like a matchstick factory next to a campfire. And never leave it unattended while lit. That’s where accidents happen.

Check the gas hose for cracks or rodent chew marks every spring. If you smell gas while the grill’s off, don’t light it — fix the leak first.

The deck itself isn’t the problem. The laziness is. Keep up with cleaning, give it space, and don’t walk away. Future you (and your homeowner’s insurance) will thank you.