Barbecue safety message after spate of recent incidents

Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind the public of the dangers of barbecues after a number of recent incidents over the last week.

Appliances from Morriston, Pontardawe and Neath attended a property in Waunceirch in the early hours of Monday 27th May where a house was severely damaged by fire.

The fire was caused by hot coals from a neighbour’s barbecue, which had been placed in a plastic container and left unattended. Over a few hours the heat melted the container and set fire to the dividing wooden fencing, which in turn ignited their next door neighbour’s shed. The shed was located next to the house and the flames were so intense it ignited the roof structure and attic space.

The roof of the property sustained major damage, with fire crews having to remove most of the roof tiles. The internal ceiling also collapsed.

Watch Manager Geraint Thomas said “This fire has left a family homeless and it’s going to take months for the property to be restored.

“Whenever you have a barbecue, you need to ensure that you leave any hot waste materials to cool thoroughly in the barbecue itself. Never attempt to transfer them into anything else, unless they have cooled completely and never transfer any form of ash into a plastic bag or container”.

On Saturday afternoon of 1st June fire crews from Tenby were called to a charity fund-raising event in Amroth in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, after smoke and flames erupted from the gas-powered barbeque.

Crew Manager Jeremy Lees who attended the incident said, “The fire was caused by radiated heat which came from the grill. This melted the pipe and ignited the gas escaping from the cylinder below”.

To avoid injuries or damage to your property or barbecue, please follow these simple precautions:

General Safety

• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area.
• Never leave the barbecue unattended.
• Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.
• Ensure the barbecue is cool before attempting to move it.

Gas Barbecues

• Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder.
• Change cylinders outdoors if possible or in a well-ventilated area.
• If you suspect a leak to the cylinder or pipe work, brush soapy water around the joints and watch for bubbles – tighten to fix but do not overtighten.
• After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls to ensure any residual gas in the pipe work is used up.

The Service is also asking the public to make sure their barbecues are in clean and good working order before they light them.

Deputy Head of Community Safety Steve Davies said, “Many safety issues surrounding barbecues are caused by simple oversights, such as not cleaning them thoroughly enough. It’s really important to clean your barbecue at the start of summer, as often this is the time when you will notice any damage that has occurred during the winter. You also need to ensure you clean them well in between each use as over time fat can accumulate and spill over the sides of gas barbecues causing an increased risk of fire if it falls on gas bottles, pipes or hoses”.

Fire crews from Llanelli also attended a hedge fire in the Swiss Valley on Friday 31st May, which had been caused by excessive heat from a gas barbecue in close proximity to a garden hedge, causing it to ignite.

Watch Manager Marc Gower said, “Always ensure your barbecue is placed on a flat surface, well away from any sheds, trees, shrubs or hedges as they can easily ignite as this incident shows. If anything nearby does set alight, please do not attempt to extinguish the fire yourself, especially through use of a hose. Call the Fire Service immediately and evacuate your property or garden”.

For more information on barbecue safety, please consult their summer safety leaflet: