BBQ party tonight

And some people are clearly too stupid to read. The guidance actually says to not leave household BBQs unattended. It is absolutely fine to have a BBQ at home.

This is entirely inaccurate information. Sparks will fly from a charcoal BBQ and could easily set light to surrounding trees.

Your DH won’t find it silly if your lawn, trees, house and all your belongings go up in flames, not to mention neighbouring houses and people’s lives being put at risk . Check out the videos of the houses in Stourbridge. Fires get out of hand very very quickly and parties tend to involve alcohol where people aren’t necessarily being careful. Don’t have a BBQ, we have been told not to for very obvious reasons. Take the cooking indoors.

There is no ban, because it's unenforceable.

But firefighters are very stretched, and so it wouldn't hurt for all the people who can be bothered to just change plans.

The warning specifically references bbqs at home by saying they should not be left unattended and should be fully extinguished which suggests they are not banned. Disposal bbqs and fires in the wild are a much greater risk. That said, theres always a risk and the advicd also says, more vaguely, to avoid activities that could start a fire.

So imo you are 'allowed' but you have to balance any potential, albeit relatively negligible risks, but also the wider sentiment of your family, neighbours etc. The caveat is i guess local councils could make their own, stronger rules, so check that out first.

I dont think this one is a decision for mumsnet but the opposing opinions are going to be brutal. Opinions are different to facts though, so make your own choice

This is getting to covid levels of crazy already on here. We are going to a BBQ this evening for a family birthday, they have a gas BBQ in a paved outdoor kitchen area, my brother has already said he will have two large buckets of water and the hose to hand next to the BBQ. Where is the risk? It's not by a fence, and there are options close to hand in case of a freak accident. The alert didn't say anything about gas BBQs, look at countries who have this drought every summer they don't freak out and cancel their lives. They risk assess and put a plan in place.

Precisely but, as usual, some think they’re exempt and too important to listen.

Were you going to use disposable BBQs?

It’s open flames that are the issue.

Exactly this. Have people lost their minds? There is no ban on BBQs.

From the last 24hrs? Happy to acknowledge what you're saying if true, but can't find this anywhere. Why would they issue guidance that conflicts with the alert?

If it is on hard standing away from anything flammable ( a good metre ) low wind and you keep the lid on as much as possible and ensure it is extinguished properly it should be fairly low risk. Disposable ones are more risk because they tend to be left in the ground and not put out properly

We've got a family 70th family birthday party tonight,and were planning a BBQ, everything planned.
We have changed it obviously....because we're not morons !!

Just cook it indoors, same people, same food, same drink.

Exactly. We'll be using one tonight,it's a gas one and the lid will be down and it's on patio ,not anywhere near anything dry.

You might need to reread the alert!

Exactly, everyone is getting a bit hysterical here. We are having a bbq tomorrow using our gas one. Everyone needs to calm down.

People have been asked not to use a disposable bbq.

This ⬆️. Everything is tinder dry, all it needs is a spark.

I know, it must be absolutely devastating.
I really hate the term "pearl clutching" anyway. So stupid.

Just going on the government guidance which says household barbecues should not be left unattended. Not that they shouldn’t be used.

I question the intelligence of anyone asking this question. The vast majority of sensible people don't require advice from the government, a ban on disposable bbqs or a phone alert to understand that only a fool would light any form of naked flame - bbq, of any variety, bonfire, fire pit, brazier etc. Think, what might go wrong, what will your neighbours think of you.

I'd just cook indoors and eat outside.

The detailed guidance states that household barbecues should not be left unattended. Not that they shouldn’t be used.

Cook the food indoors, the food will probably turn out better and it will be easier for you anyway. BBQ food is so overrated.

If you have a BBQ the chance of you causing a fire is small, but what if a fire did start near to you and you unfairly get the blame? You also might end up really annoying your neighbours and falling out with them, it's not worth it. You know how judgy people like to take others down. The advice is no fires, just follow it, no one can critisize you if you cook the food indoors.