With next week’s bank holiday set to see thousands of Londoners dusting off their barbecues, London Fire Brigade is urging would-be chefs to take care while cooking.
Every summer the Brigade is called to barbecues that have got out of hand, but by following a few simple fire safety rules, this situation can be avoided.
London Fire Brigade's Head of Community Safety Paul Oughton said: “Using petrol to light your barbecue, or leaving it unattended are two of the common mistakes people make. Unfortunately, fires caused by barbecues get out of control and lead to a visit from local firefighters and potentially serious damage to your property.
“We want Londoners to enjoy the summer bank holiday, so follow a few simple common sense rules, and make sure your barbecue runs smoothly.”
• 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. Don't put the barbecue where people have to squeeze past it.
• Only use approved barbecue fuel or fire lighters. Never use petrol or paraffin.
• Keep children and garden games well away from the cooking area.
• Never leave the barbecue unattended
• If you are the chef, don’t drink too much alcohol while cooking.
• Watch out when you are cooking fatty foods. Lots of fat spilling onto the coals might make them flare up.
• 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 you are using a bottled gas barbecue, make sure the controls and the cylinder valve are turned off before you change the cylinder.
• Change the cylinder in the open air if you can, otherwise open doors and windows to provide good ventilation.
• If you think there might be a leak in the gas cylinder connections or pipe, brush soapy water over all of the joints and watch out for bubbles. If you find a leaky joint, try to tighten it but don't over tighten it.
• When you have finished cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before the barbecue controls. This makes sure any leftover gas in the pipe is used up.
• Store your gas cylinders outside and protect from frost and direct sunlight. Don't keep more spare cylinders than you need.
Note to editors:
The Brigade is offering all London residents a free home fire safety visit. Firefighters visit homes, talk to you about fire risks and fit free smoke alarms if they are needed. Call 08000 28 44 28 to arrange a home fire safety visit.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
