The FDNY offered need-to-know advice to stay safe while firing up the grill during the Fourth of July holiday.

Firefighters had fun hosting a cook-off Monday at the Empire Steak House on East 50th Street in Manhattan, but they also want New Yorkers to keep in mind the dangers of grilling.

They say anyone planning to barbecue at home for the Fourth of July should use as many safety precautions as possible to prevent any injuries or fires. This includes cleaning the grill to make sure there's no old grease.

Those who plan to use charcoal grills should wait until the charcoal completely cools down before touching it. Firefighters say dispose the charcoal only after it's cooled down completely.

Grilling temperatures can go up to 1,000 degrees, so establish a safety zone of at least 3 feet around the grill and keep children and pets away.

Fire officials say up to 9,000 injuries are reported from grilling, so the safety tips should be taken seriously.