As warmer weather and lighter evenings arrive, many will be looking to dust off their barbeques and enjoy time with family and friends in the garden. But safety should always come first, and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service wants to remind everyone of a few precautions to take while cooking outdoors.
Here are some tips to reduce the risk of fire and property damage:
- • Never leave the barbeque unattended
- • Place the barbeque on a flat surface away from trees, shrubs, or sheds
- • Keep kids, pets, and garden games away from the cooking area
- • Have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
- • Allow the barbeque to cool down before moving it
Did you know?
BBQs can stay hot for hours, so be really careful moving them. They also give off carbon monoxide fumes for several hours after they go out, so don't bring them indoors, or into a tent, with you.
Disposable BBQs bring several risks, from grass fires to harming wildlife.
- Disposable BBQs are often not put out properly, which can cause grass fires, especially in hot weather when the ground is dry.
- They’re sometimes used on balconies, where the wind may carry smouldering ash towards nearby grassland or neighbouring properties.
- The ground beneath a BBQ can remain searingly hot for hours after it has been removed, posing a risk to anyone who might walk over it.
- They pose a threat to wildlife and their disposable design makes them wasteful and harmful to the environment.
A number of retailers have already stopped selling disposable BBQs, and we want more to do the same.