Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is asking everyone to take extra care when cooking outdoors, especially when lighting barbecues. Safety must be a top priority, especially during the extremely hot weather when the countryside and garden grass and hedges are dry. In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, between 2012 and 2021, the fire service was called out to over 60 incidents involving barbecues.
The fire and rescue service have released advice on how to barbecue safely.
The list includes:
- Never leave a lit barbecue unattended.
- Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues; never use a barbecue indoors.
- Make sure barbecues are away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste.
- Keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area.
- After cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it.
- Use enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue, but not more.
- Empty ashes on to bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins, if they’re hot, they can melt the plastic and cause a fire.
- Those in charge of a barbecue should not drink too much.
- Keep a bucket of water, sand, or a garden hose nearby for emergencies.