Residents and visitors have been urged to take disposable barbecues home after one that had been thrown away set fire to a wheelie bin on Blyth beach.
South Blyth councillor Daniel Carr spoke out after the incident and also asked people not to bury barbecues in the sand for the protection of other beach-goers.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service meanwhile has issued a statement asking people not to use disposable barbecues at all.