Click on the picture on the left for a PDF of the Fire Safety Outdoors leaflet

• Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues.
  
  
• Disposable barbecues are designed to be used on the ground. Place on a stone slab or gravel, not grass.
  
  
• Never use a barbecue indoors.
  
  
• Never leave a barbecue unattended.
  
  
• Enjoy yourself, but don’t drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the barbecue.
  
  
• Make sure your barbecue is well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs and garden waste.
  
  
• Keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area.
  
  
• After cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it.
  
  
• Empty ashes on to bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins.
  
  
• Always keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies.
  
  
• Never use of flammable liquids to light the barbecue. Prepare well in advance, using enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue - normally around five centimetres.

Additional safety tips if you have a gas barbecue:

• Change gas cylinders outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
  
  
• Never store barbecue gas cylinders indoors – if there is a fire they might explode and block your escape route. Store them outside, away from direct sunlight and frost.
  
  
• Take care when turning bottled gas barbecues on and off to prevent any escape of gas.
  
  
• Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder.
  
  
• After cooking, turn the gas supply off first and then the barbecue control. This will stop any gas from leaking.
  
  
• If you suspect a leak, turn off the gas cylinder and try brushing soapy water around all joints, watching for bubbles.
  
  
• Make sure all joints are tightened, safe and secure.