Edinburgh firefighters warn: mind those barbecues

majority of incidents involve bins and/or disposable barbecues

Firefighters in the City of Edinburgh have reminded people to safely dispose of barbecues to help prevent needless fires.

The Meadows is a particularly popular spot for Edinburgh picnickers, and last year the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) attended 57 fires in and around the Meadows between May and August. The majority of these incidents involved bins and/or disposable barbecues.

One of the main causes of the fires was the careless disposal of BBQ’s into bins, some of which already contained combustible materials.

This type of incident ties up valuable SFRS resources as well as causing inconvenience for park staff and users.

Station Manager Jonathon Miller said: “Following the guidance provided will prevent resources from one of Scotland’s busiest stations being tied up at minor, easily prevented small fires on the Meadows.

“This can also delay our attendance at more serious, possibly life threatening, incidents and divert firefighters away from important community safety and training activities.

“We will be conducting routine joint visits with City of Edinburgh Council Park Rangers during the summer to offer advice on BBQ safety as well as offering free home fire safety visits to park users.”

The following simple tips should be followed to ensure a safe and enjoyable BBQ and lead to a reduction in fires:

• Make sure your barbecue site is flat and away from fences, trees and sheds.
• All BBQ’s should be raised from grass areas to avoid burning or scolding
• Keep a bucket of water or large bottle of water nearby, in case of emergencies.
• Use only enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue to a depth of about five centimetres (two inches).
• Never use petrol or paraffin to start, or revive your barbecue – use only barbecue firelighters or starter fuel on cold coals.
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
• Do not leave the barbecue unattended.
• After cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before trying to move it.
• Hot ashes can melt a plastic wheelie bin and can cause a fire.
• Avoid alcohol if you are in charge of a barbeque.
• Use one of the two designated BBQ bins on the Meadows (Middle Meadows Walk/Bruntsfield links)