Barbecue safety warning after Southall house fire

Firefighters are sharing their barbecue safety tips after a fire at a house on Mount Avenue in Southall.

Part of a lean-to at the rear of a semi-detached house and a small part of the guttering were damaged by fire. Two trees in the garden of an adjacent property and a single storey garage were destroyed. Part of the fascia of a neighbouring property was damaged and a fence panel at the rear of a property was destroyed by fire. The guttering of several neighbouring properties were also damaged by the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a barbecue which spread out of control.

Station Commander Peter Clark said: “The resident of the property was burning letters on a barbecue in his garden. There were huge conifer trees at the back of the garden and the barbecue was placed too close to the trees, so when sparks came off the barbecue they were alight in a matter of seconds.

“Flames spread quickly and the wind blew embers across to neighbouring properties, causing further damage.

“Crews worked incredibly hard in hot, arduous conditions to make the scene safe. Luckily no one was hurt, but this serves as a timely reminder as to how easy it is for barbecues to spread out of control.

“It’s really important that you always place barbecues on level ground and far away from anything that can easily catch fire, like trees, fences and garden sheds.

"Never burn dangerous items, like aerosol cans, paint tins, batteries or anything else that adds fuel to a fire. It’s also a good idea to keep a hose pipe or a bucket of water handy.”

Five ways to stay BBQ safe

• Never use a BBQ – including disposables – indoors or on your balcony
• Be careful where you position your BBQ – we suggest on level ground, well away from anything flammable like sheds, fences, trees or tents.
• Don't use petrol, paraffin or any flammable liquids on your BBQ – firelighters are a much safer option.
• Carefully supervise children – little ones can all too easily trip and fall, while older children might hurt themselves trying to help.
• Be pet-aware – animals can cause accidents getting under your feet. To be really safe, keep them indoors, or at least out of the immediate vicinity of the BBQ.

The Brigade was called at 1756 and the fire was under control by 1916. Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Southall and Northolt fire stations attended the scene.