Summertime is a great time for outdoor gatherings celebrations. Part of the fun is indulging in the pleasures of grilling and sharing good food and drink with family and friends.

But certain safety measures must be followed to make sure that these grand epicurean hoedowns don’t end in catastrophic property – and personal – damage caused by fire gone out of control. Especially considering how dry and combustible everything is during these recent heat waves.

It is important to remember that charcoal, wood, electric, and propane grills are not allowed on porches, balconies, fire escapes, or roofs. Also, propane tanks are not allowed to be stored in or on any residential building at any time.

Fire control professionals advise us that grills should be kept clean to prevent grease fires. Grilling should be done on ground level, ten feet away from any combustible walls or structures, and they should not be used under any overhangs. And a grill should never be left burning unattended.

Also, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and chimineas are prohibited in the City of Somerville, which is a densely populated city, with an older housing stock predominantly constructed of wood frame dwellings which are built closely together.

With this density of the houses, it is imperative that all outside burning and fires are prohibited to prevent fires from starting and spreading to multiple houses. All fires used for cooking should be on a charcoal briquette grill or a propane gas grill.

And please, watch where you drop those cigarette butts. If you must smoke, do it safely.