AIBU to think heatwave barbecue reactions are starting to feel a bit Covid?

[PatioDwellers]

To think the bbq/fires in the heatwave responses have the air of Covid about them …

’my neighbour is having a bbq what should I do’, Ring 101, call the fire brigade, take photos, people will die!

tinfoil bbqs in the countryside, tossers and rightly banned.

You try living where l do .

The OP is not talking about the restrictions feeling like COVID, more the responses to it. See @WingBingo 's reply at 09.00 as an example.

I have answered it. They shouldn’t but they did because they don’t have much other options. And to be fair it seems like it worked 😂

COVID was an extraordinary situation that lasted two years. In hindsight, we can now acknowledge that some of the measures were unnecessary.
Now, with the wildfires, it seems like a bit of a novelty here, but look at what’s been going on across the continent for at least the last decade. Most wildfires are started accidentally by people not properly disposing of cigarette ends, leaving BBQs unattended, etc.
You might find the alerts a bit over the top now, but you’ll get used to them. Unfortunately, this won’t be a two-year event.

I bet you’ll be the bbq police one day 😅

I hate bin fires and I really hope they get banned. No need for them as we have home recycling and recycling centres etc. Before we moved to this house we used to have a nightmare neighbour type around the corner who would burn all sorts and the smell was awful…he would burn plastic items too and you would see big black plumes of smoke. He didn’t care about others and we constantly had our windows closed.

We managed to move just before he died we heard from an old neighbour his son moved in and is ten times worse with the bin fires and burning garden waste he gets from his job…it really should be banned.

Yes, it feels very much like Covid, though so far I've only seen it on mumsnet. I'm hoping my real-life friends, family and colleagues are less hysterical and capable of understanding what's actually been advised.

The OP is not talking about the restrictions feeling like COVID though - just people's responses to it!

Nope

I've never barbecued in my life and have survived perfectly well. There are people acting like their human rights are being breached by not being 'allowed' to barbecue. Jeez, their world won't end if they give it a miss for a week or so - but their world could possibly end if they go ahead and cause a fire that gets out of control.

It’s been fascinating for me in Australia. Never knew so many people in the UK had BBQs in their gardens.

We regularly have total fire bans in summer because of bushfires but this doesn’t actually include backyard BBQs like many Australians have (in my state at least).

Yes in that people here are putting their own interpretation on an instruction and name calling and othering anyone who doesnt follow their interpretation.

It’s the same every summer in most European countries , drive along a major motorway in France and there are signs saying BBQs forbidden - smoking forbidden. People do report to the authorities as it’s dangerous and clearly there for a reason!

that’s what I’m trying to say. Being reckless in this weather is obviously stupid and unforgivable.

I didn't judge anyone during Covid except the useless government as people were just doing what they needed to get through it.

But I don't want my house burning down. So would I judge any of my neighbours if they increased the possibility of that happening by having an unnecessary bbq because they "want one"?

Too fucking right I would.

What a shame we can't vote for "you are being unreasonable".

can believe someone even asked this.
HOMES ARE BURNING.

DO NOT have that BBQ Op
And while I am no switch I would report you for lighting a BBQ if you were my neighbour. The safety of yourself and your family and preservation of everything you worked for may mean nothing to you but I won’t let you compromise mine.
And if that doesn’t deter you, how do you think social services will respond when they receive the referral from emergency services the next day?

I can’t imagine why not 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

This response exactly proves the OP’s point! 🤣🤣

The one thing good about this drought is that I dont have my house constantly filled with disgusting meat burning smells all summer.

Report her to whom?

It does feel like it.

People reading rules and wondering what is technically allowed. Then there is the judging of people who don't follow their interpretation of rules. And how if their friends did x how they would not be friends anymore. No independent thinking just looking at rules.

Nothing has actually changed in 24h expect that government has informed people to not be stupid. It is equally dry as it was 10am yesterday but because of 'the rules' it ia suddenly dangerous.

People completing missing what you're saying OP, and so many of these posts actually proving your point!

It's not that the warnings and the situation feel like Covid, it's that people reactions are similar to during Covid with the "bbqs are not essential" "ring 999 if you see someone having a bbq" "can I have a bbq if we do it in the paddling pool and only have one sausage each". Very reminiscent of "just put cheese in your coffee, nobody needs milk" "my neighbour had his mum over to visit today aibu to ring the police as she's not in his bubble?"

I agree.

Im struggling with people referencing "interpretation"

It was clear "do not undertake any activity that could start a fire" then some examples (not an exhaustive list) like disposable BBQs, firepits etc and a reminder even a small flame could star a wildfire.

A BBQ isnt needed for physical or mental health, it isnt a dietary requirement, you could have people over for sausages from a george foreman, a pan or the oven.

If you want a BBQ and having one could potentially see my home destroyed of course I think youre a dick. In Europe people whod fled their homes had to abandon their cars and run for their lives with their children. If we can minimise that risk here, why wouldnt we? No one thinks it will happen to them but if it happens, it has to happen to someone.

Haven't used a disposable BBQ for decades, will rush out to panic buy 100 now.

You've misunderstood the OP.