County seeking to douse use of lighter fluid for barbecuing

And lighter fluid emits volatile organic compounds that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which can cause health problems for people with lung and heart disease, children and people who exercise outside. It also can leave toxic residue on grilled food.

So skip the lighter fluid when you're firing up the grill this Memorial Day weekend.

Our ancestors did it and so can you.

That's the message from the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. The department says barbecues can be healthier and have less environmental impact if we use one of three options:

● A charcoal chimney starter. This device consists of a wide steel pipe with air vents at the bottom and a grate in the middle. The charcoal goes on the grate and a sheet or two of crumpled paper is tucked in the bottom and lit.

● An electric charcoal starter. This electric coil is plugged in, placed in the coals for a set period of time and removed.

● A propane or natural-gas grill.