With the weather looking up for this bank holiday weekend it is likely that many of us will be getting out the barbecue or going away in the caravan or staying in a tent. As exciting as this is now we are allowed to meet up with friends and family, it is as crucial as ever to stay safe and eliminate any potential risks.

To avoid injuries or damage to property, Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service recommend following these simple precautions:

Barbecue fire safety tips:

• Never leave a barbecue unattended
• Ensure the barbecue is on a flat surface, well away from a shed, trees or shrubs
• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area
• Keep a bucket of water / sand nearby for emergencies
• Ensure the barbecue is cool before attempting to move it

Be carbon monoxide aware:

Never use fuel-burning devices (e.g., disposable barbecues, camping stoves, camping heaters, lanterns etc) inside a tent. Using these indoors can cause Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. They give off fumes for hours after you have used them – levels high enough to result in CO poisoning.

To avoid hazardous CO exposures, fuel-burning equipment should never be used inside a tent, camper, or any other enclosed shelter. Fuel burning equipment includes camping stoves, heaters, lanterns etc.  Opening tent flaps, doors or windows is insufficient to prevent build up of CO concentrations from these devices. When using these fuel-burning devices outdoors, the exhaust should not vent into enclosed shelters.

The biggest danger is the use of flammable liquids to light the barbecue, this is incredibly dangerous.

Staying in a tent?

TOP TIP! Never use candles in or near a tent – torches are safer.

Make sure to:

• Keep cooking appliances away from the tent walls as they could easily set alight
• Never cook inside a small tent
• Don’t cook near flammable materials or long grass, they can set alight easily
• Make sure you know how to escape by cutting your way out of the tent if there is a fire
• Make sure everyone knows how to put out clothing that is on fire - stop, drop and roll
• Don’t smoke inside tents

Going away and staying in a caravan?

Make sure to:

• Fit and test a smoke alarm in your caravan – optical alarms are usually most effective
• Take special care when cooking – don’t leave pans unattended
• Turn off all appliances before you go out or to bed
• Ashtrays are made of a material that can’t burn and never smoke in bed
• Don’t dry clothes over the stove
• Remove any litter and rubbish near the caravan to reduce the risk of a fire spreading
• Make sure the caravan is ventilated and never block air vents, avoiding a build-up of poisonous gases

Here at Firechief, we want you to feel safe while having fun. Our mission is to work hard everyday to protect lives and property from fire by providing a range of fire safety products that can be trusted to perform when the heat is on.

Firechief products carry a range of accreditations such as the BSI Kitemark, LPCB approval, MED certification, CE mark and Apragaz QA and set the standard for those who are seeking competitively priced, superior quality, UK-approved fire safety products.

The Firechief range includes high performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers and Firechief Alarms for barbeque fire safety, your home, and leisure time. Download our fire safety checklist.

For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.