Barbecue safety checks: London Fire Brigade urges essential prep first

London Fire Brigade warns of a seasonal rise in barbecue fires and urges simple safety checks: avoid accelerants, use level ground, and never barbecue indoors or on balconies.

Anyone planning to fire up a barbecue this summer has been urged to do a few essential checks first.

London Fire Brigade says the basics still make the biggest difference: look closely at an old barbecue’s condition before using it, be careful where it’s placed, and never rely on shortcuts that can turn a relaxing cook into an emergency.. The warning comes as firefighters report that, across 2020 to 2025, the sharpest rise in barbecue-related fires happened in April and May.

For many people, barbecue season begins with good intentions—getting together, cooking outdoors, and making the most of improving weather.. But the difference between a safe cook and a dangerous blaze often comes down to small choices.. Misryoum understands why the advice lands the way it does: the most common preventable risks are also the ones people tend to overlook when they’re busy setting up.

Fire crews have repeatedly cautioned that people should never use paraffin, petrol or lighter fluid to get coals going.. Accelerants can ignite too quickly or spread flames in unpredictable ways, especially when heat is still building.. Misryoum’s takeaway from the brigade’s guidance is simple: if ignition doesn’t feel right, pause and reassess rather than adding another chemical to the mix.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection Richard Field also stressed practical placement and supervision.. He advised users to put barbecues on level ground, away from anything flammable such as sheds, fences, trees, or tents—and out of reach of children and pets.. Even when a garden feels like the “obvious” place to cook, risk doesn’t vanish.. It just moves: embers can drift, heat can transfer, and dry materials nearby can catch.

There’s also a strong warning about where barbecuing is increasingly common—outside private homes and in tight urban spaces.. Using a barbecue on a balcony can carry an obvious threat to surrounding areas, including the building itself and wider embers that can spread beyond the immediate cooking spot.. Misryoum readers may recognise the pattern: balconies and shared outdoor areas can feel controlled, but they are still exposed to wind, materials, and limited clearance.

Public spaces can be a different challenge altogether.. Field urged people to “think twice” before barbecuing in parks and other public areas, noting that in many places it is prohibited and can lead to a fine.. Disposable barbecues add another layer of danger because they are often treated as “done” once the flames go out—yet hot coals can smoulder for hours.. That smouldering heat can still ignite dry grass or other vegetation long after the cook is over.

Misryoum also highlights a few steps that go beyond the headline warnings.. Never use a barbecue—including disposables—indoors.. Don’t set one up on decking.. Keep it attended; leaving it even briefly can allow small flare-ups to grow.. And when the cooking is finished, extinguish it properly rather than assuming “no flames” means “no risk.” For gas barbecue users, the brigade’s message includes changing gas cylinders outdoors and making sure controls and valves are fully turned off beforehand.

The wider point is that barbecue fires tend to spike when people return to outdoor cooking after colder months.. That seasonal shift makes April and May particularly important, but the hazards don’t disappear at the end of summer.. With families likely to plan more meals outdoors in the coming weeks, Misryoum’s advice is to treat setup and shutdown as part of the cooking itself—because that’s when most preventable incidents start.