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 ?

This is what I’m talking about - ‘yes, that rule was bonkers’. And yet people policed themselves and neighbours with passionate zeal, despite it protecting no one at all.

To be fair you probably shouldn't.

You’re not funny.
The heathland near to me burnt to cinders. All the wildlife, the habitats, the the trees- gone and never to grow back.

They also have different plants and terrain to UK in many of the hottest areas, plants which have evolved to live in hot, dry climates don’t dry out as quickly in heat and hold water during periods of drought. A big issue in the uk is so many plants and especially the grass, which is everywhere, are not designed for hot climates, they don’t hold water well within their cells and they have dried out to basically be straw which can very easily be ignited.

Also, Australia has had some pretty horrific wild fires in past years too!

Bit too late for that.

Exactly we used to live in rural Victoria and they would still have BBQs in fire season they just manage them safely.

Mumsnet turns into people trying to outdo each other with how fire safe they are being.
A gas BBQ on a patio with clear zone around it, is perfectly safe.
Nothing is zero risk, cooking on your hob inside carries some risk, why don’t we all eat cold food for the next few weeks.

The government guidance does not ban BBQs at home, it just says to not leave them unattended. I can’t imagine many people do that anyway.

I'd say the risk of a fire happening is far higher from people simply tossing cigarette stubs away than it is from garden BBQs, but are they banning people from smoking everywhere, even in their own gardens?

However, as people have pointed out, continuing with your barbecue may not cast you in a good light with your neighbours, and you might want to consider that if something did go wrong, it'll probably stretch a fire service that is already exhausted in some areas.

The alert says disposable bbqs, which people tend to put directly on the ground and don't both discarding properly. As long as youre careful a normal bbq will be fine.

I'm still stunned by the stupidity of people. Every day. 🙁

I can't believe that 44% on here think its OK to light an outdoor BBQ right now. Do any of you watch the news and see the devastation to land and houses, eg in Stourbridge yesterday? All those houses in flames, completely destroyed.

I haven't risked a BBQ (proper one) in weeks. One stray spark could be a disaster. It's shame because I love a BBQ in summer, but it's just not worth the risk IMO.

No, your own garden is the exception. We'll also raise everyone's taxes apart from yours. Don't worry about swimming lessons, your kids won't drown, only other people's, the water knows they're the exception.

Kind of my point I guess.

And incredibly you didn't need someone to tell you! I wish everyone had common sense.

I actually haven't smelt any either, which is highly unusual, so other people are obviously being cautious too this summer and for good reason.

Every time you step out of your house there is a risk and your do that for all kinds of non essential reasons. There is guidance about how to make home BBQs safer, if the government wanted to they would've included all BBQs in the alert and not issued the additional safety guidance. You are free to add extra restrictions to your life, but following the government issued guidance isn't seen as an issue outside of Mumsnet

We planned to have a BBQ tomorrow. This was planned about a month ago.
I'd already told DH that I'm cooking the food indoors. Our garden isn't huge and what little grass we have is straw. DH would be at the BBQ the whole time, but it's not worth the risk as far as I'm concerned.
We have a huge George foreman that we'll take outside for the burgers, but other than that it will all go in the oven.

Why would you risk it.

Everything is a tinderbox.

You’re missing the point - it’s not about what we are “allowed” to do. It’s about what is morally right to do under the circumstances.

No one needs to have a bbq - especially when you could host the same event using your oven or by doing a buffet.

It’s selfish and unnecessary but more than that it is also incredibly stupid as the person whose house you are most likely to set fire to, is your own.

Fireworks! That’s shocking , I can’t believe people sometimes.

The alert last night didn’t just mention disposable bbq’s it said and I quote “any activity that could start a fire, including disposable bbqs, fire pits…” a charcoal bbq is any activity that could start a fire!! I can’t imagine your neighbours will have a very good evening worrying about the possibility of their houses going up in smoke!
A gas bbq is supposed to be safer however I just wouldn’t bloody risk it! Just cook the food in the house and enjoy your party! No one died from oven cooked food they just might from bbq’d food at the moment!!

We intend to go ahead with our bbq this evening. However, it’s a gas one, it’s on flagstones, there are no trees, grass or combustible materials within 20 feet or so. If any of those scenarios did apply, food would be cooked in the house.

It’s not my advice, it’s government advice. Which states that household barbecues should not be left unattended. Not that they shouldn’t be used at all.

I am not a blind rule follower and wouldn't care what my neighbours think but I have to say that I couldn't enjoy a barbecue, mine or anyone else's because I'd be worried about what might happen. Gas barbi on a patio in a clear space with water available fine, anything else probably risky IMO. Mine is a Cobb which stands on a table and burns a single briquette I still wouldn't do it

Yes. Another poster shared the link to it.