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'm wondering about something. Probably all women are making threads about planned BBQs. Why are they talking about it on here and in a sense getting other peoples take on it. Why would it matter what random strangers think if they are having a BBQ given the current situation. They would do it regardless.
I think, purely from my pov, that some aren't really on board with the idea but the man of the house has deemed a bbq is going ahead as he wants to show off his cooking skill and is not going to be advised /told he can't because his fragile ego can't cope. I also think that some of these p/w are going along with it as a result but possibly a bit reluctant but don't want to say "Don't think this is a good idea in this dry weather." So they are on here to reassure themselves it's not the best idea.
I do judge people who will be attending though as it just confirms that it is okay to do this. I wonder how many will pull out or make excuses and leave early?

Agree ! The posts I have read from some posters the more it validates the argument for a blanket ban for all !

Critically thinking, I don't go hill walking when the weather is dangerous or go out to sea in a storm. I did used to make my kids swim between the flags on the beach for their safety and the safety of the lifeguards because I do actually quite like people to be able to work without undue risk to their safety. No doubt that is not critical thinking.

Brilliant, you go ahead do exactly what you want, obviously you will anyway. My thinking that I don't want to put the volunteers in my small town at any more risk is just daft.

For those saying the alert only mentioned disposable BBQs it said ‘including disposable BBQs’ it didn’t list everything. It did say anything that could start a fire

A friend had a gas BBQ that ended up in flames

I think you're right, people seem to react really badly to being asked/advised not to do something.

How much of a hardship is it to just cook food inside, really? You can still eat outside. It will still taste nice.

Anyone saying this is over reacting - I wonder whether you live in areas where you can smell the smoke from rampaging fires. These fires are killing wildlife, destroying homes and peoples livelihoods and risking lives. Why is it an over reaction to keep the risk as low as possible and just cook inside? It's not like we don't all have ovens, indoor hobs and microwaves. It's not a hardship! BBQs are more of a faff than just cooking inside anyway.

I'm glad my neighbours aren't lighting their BBQs. I'm not eagerly waiting for opportunities to judge and report people, I would find the smell of smoke and bbq drifting over the fence quite worrying right now. How am I supposed to know whether they've got a gas or charcoal BBQ and whether they've got it sitting on a big concrete area rather than on grass, with no overhanging vegetation etc.

Seriously, people are scared for good reason. Emergency services are overwhelmed and exhausted. Just use your oven.

Well on that note everyone, just to be on the safe side I’ll not be using my gas hob until further notice. I’ve unplugged the toaster too. Sandwiches all round!

Can nobody use any sensible logic anymore? Disposable BBQs in wild woodlands - bad. Normal BBQ on your patio is NOT what they are warning us about. If you’re lighting it on scorched grass then yes use your brain.

• Never leave a household barbecue unattended and ensure it is fully extinguished after use.

That’s the official rule, household barbecues are NOT banned.

Can nobody use any sensible logic anymore?

Obviously not you, if you think you're so funny and that such flippancy is appropriate.

People all over the UK are facing the devastating consequences of the actions of idiots who think it's all a big joke. If you don't live in one of these areas, count yourself lucky for now, but it will only take one imbecile who thinks they're more clever than everyone else and it could be you losing everything.

No one is stupid for being worried.

There is nothing sensible about cooking on a barbecue in the current conditions, especially when it's just as easy to keep safe and cook indoors.

Why don't you turn your toaster and hob back on and enjoy a toasted sandwich and a cup of coffee in the garden and count yourself lucky that you can do so without smelling the smoke from the homes, farms and livelihoods that are currently on fire.

My sister’s gas barbecue caught on fire - completely engulfed in flames which rapidly advanced towards the gas bottle. She got the bottle removed just in time. If it had happened in the current conditions, there would have been a serious fire.

There are so many alternatives to a BBQ and they are hardly necessary - having one at the moment is just blatantly selfish and that doesn’t address the fear neighbours smelling smoke are going to feel.

How come they can’t just send one clear message!!?

I don't know, if you knew from the news that the mountain rescue people were already having a nightmarishly busy time with unusual and difficult rescues, and you had a choice about hillwalking this weekend or postponing it for now, you might well choose to go on a lower level hike instead so as not to look really crass and inconsiderate. Sometimes even an experienced hillwalker can be unlucky and end up stuck somewhere with a broken ankle, and the timing would be awful.

Similarly, someone with a big gas barbecue might be a lot lower risk than someone with a disposable one on the grass, but the risk isn't zero, and right now with everything so dry it would be a really terrible time to be unlucky.

And the reason isn't "because the government sent a txt message", it's because of the reason they sent the message, i.e. everything being so dry and the fire service so over stretched. That's a good reason to be cautious and would be even if they hadn't sent the message.

I love (hate) it when people use this argument. Yes you're right, you take a risk leaving your front door. A person used a similar argument about not accompanying 7 year old kids to public toliets (in order to avoid risk of sexual assault). The issue is risk mitigation. It's easy to take your kid to toilet. It's easy not to have a bbq for the forseaable. But you carry on using your firepit - excellent critical thinking there.

I agree.

also, our charcoal bbq does release the odd crazy ember now and then (and it is operated by a very experienced person - not me). It had to be manned at all times. I personally would not consider lighting it. We live down south and all of the grass is dry and brown.

How clever. Reducto ad absurdum.

the laziest of all the arguments

Cook inside,

the goverment said

There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, fire pits, garden incinerators or fireworks

The words including means not limited to. It just takes a spark, so just cook inside, everything is tinder dry right now.

Maybe thats where the multiple fire crews have gone wrong, fancy aiming bloody great hoses of water at a fire instead of just tossing a solitary bucket of the stuff at it.

As for the suggestion that people are just using this as an opportunity to express how much they hate bbqs (which happens to not even be true in my case, I'm generally quite partial to one) do some posters really believe that nobody is genuinely worried about the risk and just wants to spoil other people's enjoyment for the sake of it?

Cop on, ffs!

Everything in my garden is basically just kindling!

Same 😥.

We are using logic, you are not. Did you maybe not receive the warning last night, or maybe not understand it and think including meant limited to, do you maybe not understand embers and sparks can come off a charcoal bbq and there are trees round about, that everything is tinder box dry right nlw.

Actually, an Australian on another thread said they have non-fire days when they are not allowed to bbq. Also they have vegetation which thrives in this weather and doesn’t turn to straw.

Just for your own information as it appears you don’t understand

Yes, a charcoal BBQ poses a fire hazard outside. Wind, stray sparks, and improper placement can quickly spread flames to nearby structures or dry vegetation.
Primary Outdoor Risks

• Wind-blown sparks: Strong gusts can carry glowing embers onto dry grass, leaves, or wooden fences.
• Tip-overs: Unstable ground can cause the heavy, hot kettle to fall over and spill burning coals.
• Improper disposal: Coals stay hot enough to ignite a rubbish bin for up to 24 hours after cooking.

The press release on gov.uk says that household bbqs should be manned at all times.

Exactly.

there are people saying even cooking inside poses a risk, so just crack on outside. I haven’t left straw and kindling all over my kitchen……my kitchen doesn’t seemlessly adjoining my neighbour’s kitchen…..I don’t cook on unpredictable flames……

No they are not.

Exactly risk mitigation- the bbq is protected from the wind and is on a patio in a garden away from flammable substances with a hose nearby. That’s risk mitigation. You’ve made reasonable endeavours to reduce the risk to a level as low as reasonably practicable. Speaking as someone in the risk industry.