A disposable barbecue is thought to have caused a blaze on the Downs yesterday, and people are being urged by the fire service to be careful when using them. Firefighters were called to part of the Downs near Circular Road yesterday at around 2.37pm after a grass fire started, growing to 10m x 10m in size.
The blaze, which was put out using two high pressure hose reels, is thought to have been started by an unattended barbecue, according to a log on Avon Fire and Rescue's website. Darren Jones, the MP for Bristol North West, posted a statement on Facebook which said that the barbecue that caused the fire was a disposable one, and urged people not to use them on the Downs.
He wrote: "Today, the Downs caught fire due to a disposable BBQ - given how dry the grass is at the moment, it could have been a lot worse than it was. We could also do with not having to use water unnecessarily at the moment. Please stick to picnics!"
Read more: Firefighters battle 100m grass fire in field behind Southmead homes
Recently, high street retailer Marks & Spencer announced that it would no longer sell disposable barbeques in any of its stores across the UK because of the "unusually hot and dry" weather the country is experiencing, with a heatwave predicted this week. And a poll run by Bristol Live on Twitter on Friday, August 5 which asked people whether they should be banned saw 76.4 per cent of people vote 'yes' and only 23.6 per cent of people vote 'no', with 127 people responding in total.
Barbecues are already banned on certain parts of the Downs around Ladies Mile, as well as on Troopers Hill and some sections of Brandon Hill. Bristol City Council has rules about how barbecues should be used in parks and green spaces, and breaking them could leave you with a fine of up to £500. Barbecues must be shop bought, not home-made, and should be placed on the ground rather than on park furniture.
They also need to be on legs, so the grass isn't burnt, and should be watched when alight and checked to see if they are cold before they are put in a rubbish bin. A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue service recommended that people use barbecues in their own homes, rather than in public green spaces.
"BBQs are a fun way to cook outside, but they can easily get out of control," they said. "If you’re going to have a BBQ, they are best used: in your garden and away from your home, a safe distance away from anything that could catch fire and placed on a flat surface that won’t catch alight e.g. stone or paving slabs.
"If your BBQ gets out of control, call 999 and ask for the fire service."
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