Tag Archive for: bbq

BBQ Safety and Forest Fires: How to Protect Your Property This Summer

Summer is the season for outdoor cooking. Gardens fill with friends and family, parks become busier, and disposable barbecues appear across the country.

Most BBQs end without incident. Unfortunately, some do not.

As temperatures rise and vegetation dries, the risk of grass fires and wildfires increases significantly. A single spark, a discarded disposable barbecue, or a poorly positioned grill can quickly escalate into something much more serious.

Understanding BBQ safety and forest fire risks can help protect your home, your community, and the surrounding environment.

Why Summer Increases Fire Risk

Many people associate fire damage with electrical faults or accidents inside buildings. However, during summer, outdoor fires become a growing concern.

Dry grass, hedges, fences, decking, and garden furniture all provide fuel for fires. Warm weather and a lack of rainfall create ideal conditions for flames to spread quickly.

Even a small barbecue fire can be difficult to control if the surrounding area is dry.

Common BBQ Safety Mistakes

Most barbecue-related incidents stem from simple mistakes.

Common examples include:

  • Positioning a BBQ too close to fences or sheds
  • Leaving a barbecue unattended
  • Using accelerants such as petrol or paraffin
  • Disposing of hot coals incorrectly
  • Placing disposable BBQs directly onto the grass

These actions may seem harmless at the time, but they significantly increase the risk of fire.

Safe BBQ Practices

A few precautions can significantly reduce the risk.

  • Position your barbecue on a flat, stable surface, away from buildings, fences, trees, and garden furniture.
  • Keep children and pets away from cooking areas.
  • Never leave a lit barbecue unattended, even for a few minutes.
  • Keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency.
  • Once cooking is finished, allow the coals to cool completely before disposal.

The Growing Risk of Grass and Forest Fires

Wildfires are becoming more common in the UK.

Periods of hot weather, combined with dry vegetation, create conditions in which fires can spread rapidly. What starts as a small grass fire can affect woodlands, farmland, businesses, and residential areas.

Disposable barbecues are frequently linked to these incidents. Even hours after use, they can remain hot enough to ignite dry grass.

What To Do If a Fire Starts

If a fire starts and you cannot extinguish it immediately, move to a safe distance and call 999.

Do not attempt to tackle large fires yourself.

If the fire threatens buildings, leave the area and follow the advice of emergency services.

Quick action can prevent injury and reduce damage.

Fire Damage Doesn’t End With the Fire

Even when flames are extinguished, damage often persists.

Smoke spreads throughout properties. Soot settles on surfaces. Water used to fight the fire can cause secondary damage.

This is why professional restoration is often needed after a fire.

How ServiceMaster Restore Can Help

ServiceMaster Restore provides fire and smoke damage cleaning and restoration across the UK. Our teams respond quickly to assess damage, remove smoke contamination, and restore affected properties.

If your property has been affected by fire damage, call 0800 021 3970 or find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore business today.

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How to: Ways to keep your garden barbecue safe

How to have a safe and happy BBQ this summer with ServiceMaster Restore.

Now that the weather is warmer, you’ve probably considered firing up the barbecue if you haven’t already.

After all, nothing says summer like the smell of burgers, steaks, and hot dogs fresh off the grill.

Until something starts burning, that is.

While barbecue grills can cook up large amounts of delicious food, they are also a fire hazard.

But don’t worry! There are easy ways to prevent injury and keep your home safe.

Keep your property out of harm’s way the next time you smoke, sizzle or sauté outside by following a few simple BBQ safety tips from ServiceMaster Restore.

Practice Good Grilling Habits

Whatever kind of barbecue you use, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risk of fire or injury.

Here are some grilling safety tips to follow:

  • Set your barbecue away from structures and overhangs, including your main building, shed, garage, trees and other potentially flammable objects.
  • Never use your grill inside, in a tent, or under an outdoor awning. Doing so can pose a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning using a gas barbecue.
  • Light any gas or charcoal BBQs using long-length lighters or long matches to avoid getting burned. Keep all ignition sources out of the reach of children.
  • Never leave an actively burning BBQ unattended.
  • Let the grill fully cool before you cover or store it.
  • Clean your barbecue thoroughly and often to reduce flammable build-up inside.

Be Aware of Proper Charcoal Barbecue Safety

Many swear by the taste of food cooked on a classic charcoal barbecue.

This method may be popular, but it also poses unique fire risks.

Keep these safety tips in mind if you own or use a charcoal barbecue:

  • Only add enough charcoal to cover the bottom of the barbecue. Don’t pile too much inside since it could cause ashes and sparks to become airborne, possibly catching nearby objects or your home on fire.
  • Store extra charcoal in a secure place away from other potential fire hazards, preferably in an airtight metal container.
  • Only use starter fluid designed for charcoal. Apply it to cold coals only, and don’t add extra once the BBQ is lit. Otherwise, the flames could get too high, resulting in possible burns or an unconfined fire.
  • Empty your used ashes only when they have cooled. Never store or dispose of them in a bin or leave them on the decking. Even when cooled, ashes can still cause a fire. Dump them on garden soil in a metal receptacle for proper disposal.

Use your Gas BBQ Wisely

Gas barbecue grills are convenient, easy to use, and require less refuelling than charcoal grills.

But they are also susceptible to fire risks. Remember these safety tips if you own a gas BBQ:

  • Open the lid before lighting the barbecue. This allows oxygen to escape and reduces the risk of fire or explosion.
  • Check the gas line and tank fittings regularly for leaks. You can do this by brushing soapy water around these areas. If you see bubbles emerge, there could be a leak somewhere. Replace damaged and leaking parts and make any other repairs before using the barbecue.
  • If you have spare gas cylinders, never store them under a stairway. Place them upright and outside, away from furniture or structures, to minimise fire risks.
  • Turn off your barbecue using the controls first, then close off the gas line at the tank to ensure gas can escape safely.

In need of fire damage restoration?

If the worst should happen and you experience a fire during the warmer months, the professionals at ServiceMaster Restore are always available to help.

We hope you never need to make that call. But if you do, we’ll be there to help with the recovery.

Find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore today or call 0845 762 6828 to see how we can help you in the aftermath.