Enjoy your barbecue safely this summer with our top tips:

• When choosing a barbecue, stability is essential. Ensure the one you choose is strong and sturdy.
• Make sure your barbecue is in good working order.
• Place your barbecue on a flat site and keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house, garages, porches, wooden overhangs and well away from sheds, trees and shrubs.
• Do not overload your grill with food, especially fatty meats. Too much fat dripping on the flames at once can cause flare-ups that may cause fires.
• For minor flare ups, keep a spray bottle of water handy. That way, you can spray it with the water to instantly calm it.
• Clean your grill regularly.
• Use long-handled tools and keep your clothing clear of a hot grill. Wear short sleeves and secure your apron strings.
• Keep decorations away from the grill.
• Never leave a grill unattended. Fires double in size every minute.
• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area and explain to children the dangers of playing with fire.
• Never use a barbecue indoors or inside a tent (even when you finish cooking a barbecue can still give off fumes).
• Grills release carbon monoxide, the deadly colourless, odourless gas. Please ensure there is an open and fresh air supply to disperse the gas.
• Do not use a barbecue on a balcony.
• Ensure the barbecue is cool before attempting to move it.
• Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself unless it is very small.
• Keep a phone close. If fire breaks out, call the fire and rescue service immediately on 999 or 112.

Charcoal and disposable barbecues

• Study the user instructions carefully and follow them closely.
• Only use a barbecue in very well-ventilated areas.
• Never place the barbecue on anything flammable - the foil base gets very hot. Bricks or a paving slab is ideal.
• Use only enough charcoal to cover the base to a depth of about 50mm (2 inches).
• Only use recognised fire lighters or starter fuel (never use petrol or paraffin) and only on cold coals – use the minimum necessary.
• Keep a garden hose or bucket of water nearby while you grill in case an escaped ember starts a fire.
• After cooking, close the lid to prevent embers from blowing out and causing a fire.
• Never put hot ashes straight into a dustbin or wheelie bin – they could melt the plastic and cause a fire.

If your charcoal barbecue goes on fire

• Depending on the size of the fire, closing the lid and vents may be sufficient to put the fire out.
• Keep a bucket of sand or an appropriate fire extinguisher near your grill and learn how to use these items in case of emergency.
• Make sure that the barbecue is fully extinguished by pouring plenty of sand onto it.
• Close the lid if it has one.
• Never pour water directly over hot coals, even if they appear to be out. Dousing them with water can crack the grill.
• Water on hot coals can also cause steam to generate a puff of ash, which can burn.

Gas barbecues

• Store gas cylinders outside and protect from direct sunlight and frost. Do not store more cylinders than you need.
• Before use ensure your gas barbecue is correctly serviced, check that the BBQ is in good working order and any hoses are not showing signs of wear, stiffness or cracking. Make sure all joints are tightened, safe and secure.
• If you suspect a gas leak, do not use the barbecue. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer immediately. Gas components, on any appliance, should only be repaired or replaced by a competent person.
• Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder, outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Always leave gas powered barbecues outside in the fresh air to prevent carbon monoxide build up.
• Never turn on the gas while your grill lid is closed. It causes gas to build up inside your grill, and when you do light it and open it, a fireball may explode.
• After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls to ensure any residual gas in the pipe work is used up and stop gas from leaking.

If your gas barbecue goes on fire

• If the fire is in the grill itself and you can safely reach the knobs, turn off the gas to stop feeding the fire.
• Close the lid.
• Shut the gas tank off if the fire is in the hose itself. If you are unable to reach the knob, use the appropriate fire extinguisher or call 911.
• Clear the area as the fire may quickly move to the tank which would be extremely hazardous.