SOS alert over BBQ fires

A FIRE chief has shared basic precautions for barbecue fans over the summer — after research revealed South Yorkshire is among the most fire-prone regions in the UK.

South Yorkshire was unlucky enough to score joint 13th with Leicestershire, and was the only region in Yorkshire to make the top 15 for outdoor blazes.

The research by Confused.com analysed outdoor incident report data from Fire and Rescue Services across Britain and found South Yorkshire Fire Authority had 77 garden fire callouts per 100,000 residents in the last decade.

The statistics mean the region had six per cent more fires compared with in the West Midlands (73 per 100,000 people), but 24 per cent fewer than Northumberland (103) in the same period.

Bedfordshire topped the ranking, with 181 callouts.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue area manager Matt Gillatt said: “BBQs are a leading cause of fires, which can easily be avoided if people take some basic precautions.

“All BBQs should be sited well away from buildings, fences, sheds and trees and placed on something non-flammable, like a paving slab.

“Most importantly, they should be disposed of properly — wait till they’ve fully cooled and ideally dispose of the ash in a metal bin.”

Jessica Willock, home insurance expert at Confused.com, added people could also prevent blazes by never leaving the barbecue unattended while burning and only using approved barbecue fuel or fire lighters — never paraffin.