I thought we agreed BBQs were a bad idea.

Reporting to who?! 🤣

Disposable BBQs are the main issue, not a standard patio style BBQ, assuming that is what your neighbours have.

We have used our BBQ a lot this summer to avoid using the oven and heating up the house. It's on a patio, nowhere near a fence. We don't intend to stop using it.

We just had one, no 999 incidents to report.

I don’t think many people actually read the alert correctly!
I do think though Op, you are more annoyed about your clean sheets than the risk of a fire

People have been told not to report neighbours for having bbqs as the emergency services have been inundated by nosy idiots calling 999

The alert said ‘including disposable bbqs’
It said any activity that could start a fire, which any type of bbq can do

We have just had a lovely barbecue on the patio, zero need for lighter fluid or clouds of smoke, and nothing set on fire. As usual. All very boring really.

I mean in general for your BBQ to be producing sparks and flames

At the moment? We are not. I don’t find having a BBQ a life essential; more of a nice to have sometimes. When the fire services are warning us of the dangers of even tiny sparks, and seeing videos of houses being burnt to the ground, I think we should listen. If I was, I’d use our gas bbq well away from any vegetation.

It’s worth looking at what Australia do. Charcoal BBQs, which I think the OP may be referring to, are more risky than gas.

While it mentioned, amongst other things disposable BBQ's it also stated "any activity that could cause a fire".

I think it depends on what your house and garden are like. I would guess that if you avoid any accelerant and you have a large patio area with brick walls then you would be OK. Given that the trees and grass in our garden are all crispy and we have a large shade parasol covering our patio, I managed to persuade DH that a BBQ would not be a good idea and we ‘barbecued’ on the air fryer.

How are you BBQing? Genuinely?

I’m fairly sure that using a gas hob indoors is safer than using a charcoal BBQ surrounded by parched lawn at the moment. As I said, it’s about common sense.

Okay but that’s a very wide reaching statement.

Can I cook with gas inside my home? It could technically start a fire.

It’s about using common sense. A BBQ in your garden at home is fine.

Why are so many people saying that only disposable BBQs are banned and that it’s ok to use other things? The alert clearly says not to do anything that could cause a fire. It says “including” disposable BBQs. It doesn’t say other BBQs are fine and to go ahead.

The alert said

“Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks.”

Do we really need the government to tell us what should be common sense?

If there’s loads of smoke, it suggests a charcoal bbq (from reading, gas BBQs aren’t so much of a risk, assuming sensible precautions are taken).

As a society, why are so many incapable of using common sense?

Can you dry them inside?

as for the bbqs - just stupid in this current weather. Prob all the people who couldn’t cope with the alert. And fire at the moment just isn’t worth risking. Only takes one spark.

and yes I do think anyone deliberately setting a fire at the moment should be liable if anyone’s property burns.

Surely people can just not bbq for a bit?!

To be fair I’d be concerned if my neighbours were BBQing like that because it shouldn’t be on fire!

I can see a disposable bbq is more risk as they're closer to the ground but a non disposable is too much of a risk where I am imo. People having a few drinks in charge of a small fire when its not rained for weeks near my home isn't something I would like at all.

This is satire, right?

The issue isn’t a domestic BBQ in your back garden. The issue is that people are going around with portable BBQs etc and having them in the middle of a field! Surely you didn’t sit there all afternoon with your hose?

Not sure legally as I said just idly wondering. My argument was if the house caught alight I don't think you'd have much choice but to contact your insurance.

I think there would be a case for reckless behaviour even if it wasn't a disposable BBQ given how dry everything is at present due to the lack of rain. They could hardly argue they hadn't noticed especially with the alert we all received.

Oh I thought you meant it had turned white 😂😂

Disposable BBQs are the hazard, not proper ones.

And the fire risk aside there is no air movement where I am and thei air quality is poor

So filling the air with smoke anyway is so selfish

How would they pay though ? You would have to try and claim on your insurance ,remember insurance doesn't like to pay out. And then your premiums would go up !

The reading comprehension on here at times is infuriating.