By following some simple rules you can ensure your barbecue is a safe, enjoyable event:

1. Keep young children well away from the barbecue.
2. Keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose handy in case of emergency.
3. Stand portable barbecues on an even surface and make sure they are away from the house, fences or shed.
4. Don’t place the barbecue on dry grass or vegetation.
5. Use only approved lighter fuels - never petrol or paraffin.
6. Make sure you never smoke around any fuel source.
7. Lighter fuels must only be applied before lighting.
8. Make sure matches are extinguished before disposing of them.
9. Remember to light your charcoal an hour before you start cooking.
10. Don’t be over generous with the charcoal.
11. Be careful with fatty foods and never pour oil onto meat when it is cooking.
12. Make sure alcohol doesn’t affect your ability to act safely whilst cooking.
13. Never pour petrol on any barbecue to try and re-ignite it – start the process again.
14. After you have finished cooking, extinguish the burning coals. Then leave one to three hours to check that the fire is completely out.
15. Make sure the controls and cylinder valves of a gas barbecue are turned off before you store it away. Store your cylinder in a well ventilated area and check connections for leaks.

Assistant Chief Officer Gus Cuthbert said: “This may seem a long list, but most of these things are common sense. By far the biggest danger is the use of flammable liquids to light the barbecue. We have had a couple of occasions where people have poured petrol onto the charcoal in an effort to get it going and the reaction has, not surprisingly, been violent and highly dangerous. Prepare well in advance and light the charcoal early. Most of all - enjoy your barbecue.”