An unattended barbecue caused a serious house fire on Galliard Road in Lower Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, said the London Fire Brigade today.
The blazing barbecue spread to a fence and garden shed, before the flames reached the house next door. The neighbouring house was badly damaged by the fire, the shed was destroyed and part of the fence was damaged.
Mark McHenry, Station Manager at Southgate fire station said: “This fire just shows how important it is to keep a close eye on your barbecue at all times. All it can take is a gust of wind and the fire can quickly spread to nearby fences or sheds.
“If you do have a barbecue this summer, never light it with flammable liquid like petrol and make sure you position it well away from anything that might catch fire. A simple mistake here has cost a family their home and I’d hate for this to happen to anyone else.”
It is thought the man whose barbecue it was tried to tackle the fire himself before calling 999. Mark McHenry said: “If a fire breaks out, it’s best to just call us immediately and let our firefighters deal with it.”
Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters attended the blaze. Fire crews from Chingford, Tottenham, Stoke Newington and Southgate fire stations were at the scene.
The Brigade has offered the following BBQ safety tips for anyone planning an alfresco dining session this summer:
• Make sure your barbecue is placed on level ground where it will not tip over.
• Keep barbecues away from the house, sheds, fences, garden furniture and overhanging trees or shrubs.
• Only use approved barbecue fuel or fire lighters. Never use petrol or paraffin.
• Never leave the barbecue unattended
• When you have finished cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before you try to move it.
• Empty the spent ash on to bare garden soil - never put it in the dustbin.
• If using a gas BBQ, store your gas cylinders outside and protect from frost and direct sunlight. Don't keep more spare cylinders than you need.
Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters were called to a fire in a detached house on Galliard Road in Lower Edmonton, N9 on Saturday afternoon. The Brigade was called at 1504 and the fire was under control by 1631 (on Saturday 26 May).
