THE recent spell of warm weather may have Islanders thinking about barbecues, but anyone planning on using a disposable one is being urged to dispose of them properly after an “avoidable” bin fire over the weekend.
The fire service issued the warning after attending the incident in which a bin in a car park at St Ouen’s Bay caught fire at around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.
The fire crew quickly put out the “completely avoidable” fire caused by a hot disposable barbecue to prevent it from spreading to nearby items.
Charlotte Armstrong, an Islander who witnessed it unfold, said: “Me and my partner were coming off the beach and the smell was strong. We saw the smoke coming from the bin.
“Two girls came over and said they’d called it in. Luckily no one was hurt and the surrounding land didn’t catch fire but lesson is never put a hot BBQ in the bin.”
Station commander Mark Bailey-Walker said: “We would like to thank the members of the public who promptly called 999. Thankfully no one was injured and no further damage was caused.
In a warning, he added: “Disposable barbecues can stay hot for hours, and during this period of warm, dry weather, we are urging everyone to be extra vigilant and dispose of them safely in line with advice on our website.”
The warning also advises those using a disposable barbecue at the beach to beware of the little known danger of “the area underneath”, typically sand, becoming “hot enough to cause serious burns”.
The fire service said that when moving the portable barbecue it’s important to “ensure that no-one, especially children and animals can burn themselves by stepping on the area where it was positioned”.
Then to stop others from stepping on the area after you’ve left, which can stay hot for some time, the advice is to “cool the area by covering it with cold water, or dig the area straight away with cool sand”.
It is also important to allow the barbecue to cool completely, and douse it with water if possible, before taking it home or disposing of it safely once it’s cold.
Meanwhile, if at home, Islanders should place it on level ground that isn’t decking, well away from sheds, fences, trees, flammable items, decorative screens, children, pets and games.
Other safety steps include not using accelerants, never leaving one unattended, having water or sand nearby in case of emergency and making sure ashes are fully out before disposing of it.
