With a sunny summer at home in sight, it’s understandable that many of us will want to enjoy it by having a barbecue or two!
But as we’re all aware, barbecues have their own set of fire risks which shouldn’t be underestimated. To avoid firefighters arriving as your uninvited guests, we urge you to take a look at the advice below from the UK Fire Service, to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience:
General safety
Make sure your barbecue is in good working order
Ensure the barbecue is on a flat site, well away from trees and shrubs
Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area
Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
Never leave the barbecue unattended
Ensure the barbecue is cool before attempting to move it.
Charcoal barbecues
Use only enough charcoal to cover the base to a depth of about 2 inches
Only use recognised fire lighters or starter fuel and only on cold coals – use the minimum necessary and never use petrol
Never put hot ashes straight into a dustbin or wheelie bin – they could melt the plastic and cause a fire.
Gas barbecues
Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder
Change cylinders outdoors if possible or in a well ventilated area
If you suspect a leak to the cylinder or pipe work, brush soapy water around the joints and watch for bubbles – tighten to fix but do not over tighten
After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls, to make sure that any residual gas in the pipe work is used up.