BBQ party tonight

[Grumpynan]

We have planned a family get together this evening with a charcoal bbq in the garden. I hasten to add it’s a proper one not disposable.

should we still go ahead, or should I play save and cook the food indoors, what’s everyone else doing,

I mean, it stresses disposable bbq, says nothing about kettle ones in a garden. But I don’t want to cause any problems, and tbh we have a lot of trees around us and I’m a little worried, DH says I’m being silly but ?

I would just cook the food indoors and leave the BBQ well alone.

It’s been a long, hot week, full of shit news, and maybe I’m just tired, but for one weekend, can’t people just do what they’ve been asked to do, for the sake of the fire service and everyone around them?

Your DH is being an arse. Cook the food inside. You'll still get to enjoy the company of your family and your garden, which was surely the point, not the cooking method.

It’s disposable bbqs that are the issue. Just don’t use them.

Didn't you get the alert? Why do you think it doesn't apply to you? Do not have a BBQ, disposable or not!

You’d have to be a complete idiot to use a BBQ at the moment.

It isn’t just about whether your area is in drought, it’s about the fact if something did happen the Fire Brigade are rather busy, they will be delayed in getting to you and also they are knackered! There have been London fire crews and engines in the New Forest for the past week.

Don’t do anything that will exacerbate this situation.

The warning says that people "should not undertake any activity that could start a fire".
Common sense surely would lead anyone to conclude that this (very, very obviously 🙄) includes sparks or ash from any type of barbecue igniting nearby trees or vegetation.

I'm with dh. Disposable bbqs are the bigger issue because people just put them on the ground in the middle of nowhere and/or leave them when they go home because they're hot and they can't be arsed to deal with it. Something on legs on your patio will be fine. Have the hose or a bucket of water nearby if you are worried.

Dh is a twat!

The guidance is here, and says that household barbecues shouldn't be left unattended.

There is virtually zero risk from using a charcoal BBQ on a patio in your garden. Charcoal once lit has no flames or sparks.

The problem with the disposable BBQs is not the charcoal it is that people take them to remote locations to start a fire and also leavethem behing as the are too lazy to put them out properly and take them home.

After seeing news footage of people's homes on fire, I wouldn't be lighting any kind of fire outside at the moment.

Even if your husband is OK with it, other people (your guests and neighbours, for example) definitely won't be.

No one will be able to relax properly while the barbecue is lit, so ignore your husband and cook indoors. I'm sure your guests will be relieved.

Have a lovely time with your family.

No don't have a BBQ.

Exactly this.
People putting disposable barbecues down on dry grass, not extinguishing them properly and abandoning them is a problem.

A charcoal barbecue on a patio, under supervision, not so much.

I would go ahead. Keep a bucket of water next to it.

Our charcoal barbecue is in an outdoor kitchen area on concrete ground and with stainless steel work surfaces. A garden hose is right next to it. I could take a risk managed approach as there is zero risk of us starting a fire. We’re having friends over tonight. We’re not barbecuing, but we are going to cook pizzas in the outdoor pizza oven. Again, absolutely zero risk of starting a fire.

We are having a BBQ with friends tomorrow, we are just cooking it inside and bringing out to eat with the salads etc. Just not worth it in my mind and actually makes prep bit easier can cook and leave in oven to keep warm. You will just be on edge the whole time if you do cook outside, so why bother.

I’d say it’s a no to bbq sorry

you will upset the neighbours
you will get indigestion
cook indoors
you can still eat out doors

I dont think for a minute many people will take any notice of the ban on bbqs or fireworks/fires. Where i live its Asian wedding season. And yep. Fireworks going off last night from 9 til 1 this morning. No change there. And at least two neighbours on our road had bbqs last night. We live in a self entitled society i'm afraid where people just do their own thing and dont consider the environment they live in...

A non disposable BBQ is fine as long as you're using it safely. If it's a gas BBQ it's very safe. A charcoal one requires adequate safety measures.

It's specifically disposable BBQs that are banned because they are being left on the ground after use and the owners have gone home and starting fires.

An ember from a BBQ can only travel a couple of metres. Presuming you have a decent sized garden clear an area around it. Ensure you're watching it at all times and stay outside with it until it's fully out.

Even in Aus during bushfire season gas BBQs are not banned.
I would just read the Australian guidance on BBQ safety during bushfire season and do what they do.

Use your brain.

This reminds me of Covid when people were looking for reasons to get away with doing things they knew were wrong based on a technicality. Don’t have the bbq op - cook the food indoors.

Will you enjoy it or will you spend the whole time fretting about it and feeling anxious about what your neighbours think?

It's very low risk but not absolutely no risk so I would just err on the side of caution so that I could kick back, relax and have a few drinks without the worry.

It's just not worth the hassle is it?

We were going to have one too this weekend. We are now not.

Anyone using any type of BBQ this weekend is just a bit of a bellend IMO.

Have your party but cook indoors.

When all the alerts went off yesterday, DP's immediate reaction was "doesn't include gas barbecues". He's determined to cook burgers on it today even though it's directly under a wooden fence, we haven't had a barbecue for years and our visitors don't even like burgers. I'm not going to be able to look any of the neighbours in the face if he goes ahead.