Top BBQ fire safety tips you need to know

A crucial top BBQ fire safety tip you need to know is that you must choose the right location for your BBQ. The BBQ area must be safe:

• being away from structures such as your home, shed or fences and garden furniture
• making sure there are no overhanging branches from trees or bushes nearby
• to keep the BBQ away from flammable materials, including alcohol people may be drinking 
• not to put the BBQ on a balcony
• not to have a BBQ in an enclosed space such as indoors
• to make sure the BBQ is on a flat and solid surface 

Also, you should not take a disposable BBQ or have any type of BBQ in a park or open space as the grass can be very dry and increase the risk of a fire that spreads quickly. 

It is essential to maintain your BBQ equipment as part of fire safety tips.  You will need to ensure it is in good working condition before you start. For example:

• maintain the grill
• checking for any leaks
• do not leave the BBQ unattended

Handling charcoal and gas grills is important.  You may also light and manage charcoal and gas grills safely,  you should not use fuel to start your BBQ and neither should you use this to revive it. When you use charcoal, you should be sure it covers the base of your BBQ but not by more than about two inches deep. Also, your BBQ should have instructions and you must follow these as part of the top BBQ fire safety tips. It may detail the use of charcoal and how to use it if it is a gas grill. 

Essential handling of BBQ gas grills is crucial to ensure you do not cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Gas BBQs are a source of carbon monoxide poisoning and this can occur if your BBQ gas grill is faulty. Danger signs include:

• yellow, hazy and flickering flames rather than crisp and blue
• there are dark stains on the gas BBQ grill or around it

Having a charcoal  BBQ is another reason not to have a BBQ inside as bringing charcoal indoors can cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home.

Once you have found a safe place to have your BBQ and are happy the equipment is working correctly, you must carry out safe cooking practices to prevent BBQ fires. For example,  you must attend to a BBQ the whole time you are cooking the BBQ. Stay safe when cooking on a BBQ by:

• keeping a bucket of water in the area just in case of a fire extinguisher
• ensuring the BBQ is away from pets and children
• managing any flare-ups promptly
• not using excessive amounts of lighter fluid
• ensure your grill is clean as a build-up of grease and provide fuel for a fire
• wear clothes that will not get caught in the BBQ flames

If a BBQ fire does occur, you must know what to do. You should immediately clear the area and dial 999 for the fire service if required. If anyone is injured such as by being burnt, seek medical attention immediately and ask for an ambulance. It is also important to make efforts to extinguish the fire or manage the environment safely. Some key points to remember are:

• do not use water on a BBQ grill fire as this can cause hot oil to spatter and burn you
• use baking soda or on the flames
• turn off the BBQ grill using the knobs
• close your BBQ lid as this starves a fire of oxygen 

If you're at a BBQ and a fire occurs, the occupier of the building could be liable for anyone's injuries. The owner or occupier has a legal duty to take reasonable care to ensure injuries do not occur to visitors. Hosts must follow BBQ safety tips to reduce the risk of BBQ injuries from occurring.

If you go to a BBQ at someone's garden and suffer an injury it may be because they did not carry out their legal obligation of a duty of care towards you. This means the Occupier's Liability Act has been breached. If so, you may be owed compensation and should make a personal injury claim. If so, at National Accident Helpline, we can help. Suffering an injury is a traumatic event particularly if you were expecting a day or evening full of fun at a social event such as a BBQ. If this has happened to you, we can give you free and independent advice about making a personal injury compensation claim.  

An occupier's liability claim with National Accident Helpline means you are in safe hands. With over 30 years of experience, we'll guide you through the personal injury claim process. Suffering an accident or personal injury can cause long-term significant stress in your life and our sympathetic advisers will listen carefully to how your accident happened and help you to start a claim. Where applicable,  they will then pass you to one of our specialist partner solicitors who will progress your claim, working closely with you until you receive your deserved compensation for your accident. 

Let us at National Accident Helpline help you with your personal injury claim today. Call or request a callback. If it is easier, you can start your claim online.