Barbecue season and safety reminders
Warmer weather has arrived, and with it we’ll all soon be taking the metal scrubbing brush to our barbecues in anticipation of a few burgers and bangers with friends and family.
And while cooking outdoors can be fun, your safety and the safety of others should also be at the forefront of your mind.
Barbecue safety tips
So, before you light the grill and unwrap the sausages, take a look at our barbecue safety tips.
- If you’re planning a barbecue in your outdoor communal area, please contact your Neighbourhood Team beforehand to ask if you’re allowed to have a barbecue in that location.
- Never leave a barbecue unattended and avoid distractions from people around you. Keep pets, children and games away from the barbecue.
- Consider how the smoke might affect your guests and neighbours. Let your neighbours know in advance that you’re going to have a barbecue and try to place it so that the smoke flows away from people’s windows.
- Keep the barbecue at least 10 feet away from your home and anything flammable such as wooden fences, tents, hanging tree branches etc.
- Ensure the barbecue is on a flat, level surface to prevent any risk of it falling over.
- Never use accelerants such as petrol to light or reignite your barbecue as they are highly flammable and can cause serious injuries.
- Avoid an excess of alcohol if you’re in charge of a barbecue.
- Always have a bucket of sand or water nearby for emergencies.
Disposal and portable barbecues
It might sound obvious, but never take a lit disposal or portable barbecue into your home or any enclosed space such as a garage, tent or campervan. They’re for outdoor use only.
Remember, disposable and portable barbecues will give off carbon monoxide fumes when in use and continue to do so until they are completely cold.
Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, colourless, odourless and poisonous gas, making it difficult to detect.
Hot coals and ash
Never discard a disposal barbecue or burnt coals, briquettes or ash before they are completely cold, as they can cause fires.
Fires caused by people discarding still-hot barbecue coals into bins are more common than you might think.
It’s worth remembering that call out charges for the fire brigade can cost around £400, so please act responsibly.
Use cold water or sand to put out the barbecue and make sure it’s completely cool before binning it.
If you’re using a reusable barbecue, always allow it to cool completely before you move it or put it back in storage.
Gas barbecues
If you’re using a barbecue with a gas canister, you must put them away safely and not leave them in their front garden or other communal areas.
For more information visit our fire safety webpage.
