Cause sparks heatwave warning: take extra care with BBQs

A huge fire which was declared a major incident in Birmingham was started by coals from a disposable barbecue, West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) investigators have revealed.

CCTV imagery released by WMFS shows the fire taking hold in a skip, marked ‘NO FIRES’. It quickly spread to the Smurfit Kappa paper site, just a few metres away in Nechells.

The resulting blaze led to more than 100 firefighters, 30 fire engines and other specialist resources responding on the evening of Sunday 12 June (read our incident statements). It prompted a near week-long, round-the-clock firefighting operation.

WMFS fire investigators have liaised closely with West Midlands Police and are satisfied that the fire was started unintentionally. The person who dumped the foil barbecue tray believed the charcoal in it had cooled enough not to be a fire risk.

Now, as the country faces a weekend of record-breaking heatwave temperatures, WMFS is calling on everyone who uses barbecues to do so responsibly.

Area Commander Sam Burton, who was the WMFS incident commander on 12 June, said: “Our crews responded quickly and did an outstanding job. They worked in challenging circumstances throughout the following week.

“Our investigators are satisfied that the Smurfit Kappa fire started accidentally. Nonetheless, in spite of our firefighters’ determined efforts, the consequences were catastrophic.

“This incident is a stark reminder about the potential dangers of barbecues. They should never be left unattended and never disposed of until they’re totally cold.

“Many of the barbecue fires to which we respond involve houses, garages and sheds. If you’re having a barbecue this summer, please take every possible care.

“Keep barbecues well away from property, fences, trees and bushes. The last thing we want is a repeat of this shocking incident or, even worse, people being injured or killed.”

Our operations continue at a Smurfit Kappa site in #Birmingham, three days after a huge fire started. Our firefighters and company staff are working 24/7 to break up and thoroughly dampen burning material before it's moved to another site. Read more: https://t.co/619NiBnEKB pic.twitter.com/h9TWBYEQrh

— West Midlands Fire Service (@WestMidsFire) June 15, 2022

A barbecue should be safe and enjoyable, but it’s all too easy to be distracted by friends and family while you’re cooking. Follow our tips to stay safe:

make sure your barbecue is in good working order
never pour petrol, meths or other accelerants on to a barbecue. Some of the worst barbecue-related burns we see happen when people do this and the barbecue ‘explodes’ in their face
always barbecue on a flat site, well away from property, fences, trees and bushes
keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area
never leave the barbecue unattended
keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
ensure the barbecue is cool before moving it
use only enough charcoal to cover the base, to a depth of about 50mm (2 inches)
only use recognised firelighters or starter fuel, and only on cold coals – use the minimum necessary and never use petrol
never put hot ashes straight into a dustbin or wheelie bin – they could ignite the other contents or melt the plastic and cause a fire
don’t use it indoors, in a tent or in an enclosed space. There’s a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, even when extinguished.