Two barbecue fires inside an hour

Tuesday 19 July 2016

Two barbecue fires within the space of an hour has triggered a warning from Jersey Fire and Rescue to make sure all appliances are properly tested and in working order.

Yesterday evening firefighters were called to two incidents, involving gas-powered barbecues, underlining the dangers involved during the summer season.

The first call out came at 7.05pm to a property in St Helier, where firefighters dealt with a fire which had started to catch hold of the house. 

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire and isolated the gas supply. A jet of water was also used to disperse the gas which was now leaking from the valve.

The incident was dealt with promptly, however within minutes of returning to their station, a second call came in for a fire involving a gas barbecue at St Brelade. The fire was tackled in the same way, however after inspection it was discovered that the screw-coupling that secures to the gas bottle was only hand tight causing gas to leak from the valve. No persons were injured at either incident.

Crew Commander Terry Noel said: “As the summer draws to a height the Fire Service advises the public to ensure that their gas barbecues are in safe working order before every use. Check all connections before every use and ensure that the condition of pipework and fittings are not perished or damaged. In particular, do pay special attention to the screw coupling that connects to the head of the gas bottle; this should be tightened with a spanner. If unsure contact a local gas engineer to inspect your barbecue.”

Picture credit: Courtesy of Jersey Fire and Rescue