Cooking on the BBQ.

If you are having a picnic in a park or open space – don’t use a BBQ (including disposables), grass can be very dry and a fire can start and spread quickly. This puts people, homes, property and wildlife in danger. You can help to reduce the risk of a fire by not using any naked flames in the open.  

How to stay BBQ safe

If you do BBQ at home – it is important to check you have taken the right safety precautions.

• Don’t use a BBQ on a balcony. Flames, sparks and hot embers can cause a fire and spread quickly to other parts of the building.
• Position your BBQ on level ground (not decking) and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire such as sheds, fences or trees.
• Never light a barbecue in an enclosed space and don’t use accelerants to get it going.
• Avoid distractions from people around you and never leave the BBQ unattended.
• Avoid drinking alcohol if you are in charge of the BBQ.
• Keep children, pets and garden games a safe distance from the BBQ. Have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergency use.
• After cooking, let it cool and make sure it is properly out – smouldering ashes can give off dangerous carbon monoxide fumes and can be fatal. 

Disposable BBQs

Disposable BBQs bring a number of risks - from grass fires to harming wildlife. Please be aware of the following:

• Many of London’s parks and open spaces have banned disposable BBQs. Find out more about public space protection orders on your local council’s website.  
• When disposable BBQs are not put out properly, they can cause grass fires, especially in hot weather when the ground is dry
• When used on balconies, the wind may carry smouldering ash towards nearby grassland or neighbouring properties, starting a fire.  
• The ground beneath a BBQ can remain searingly hot for hours after it has been removed, posing a risk to anyone who might walk over it.
• They pose a threat to wildlife and the environment.