Balcony Barbeque on Gunnersbury Avenue Causes Fire
Fire Brigade believes blown embers may have started blaze in adjacent flat
It took less than half an hour to get the fire under control. Picture: London Fire Brigade
May 30, 2023
London Fire Brigade has warned against lighting barbeques on balconies after one caused a fire at a flat on Gunnersbury Avenue on Bank Holiday Monday (29 May).
It was required to send four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Acton, Chiswick, Wembley and Richmond fire stations after receiving the first call about the fire on the second floor above a shop at 6.40pm.
It took less than half an hour to get the fire under control and there were no reports of any injuries.
Initial investigations suggest that the fire started due to a barbeque being lit on an adjacent balcony with embers possibly having been blown over.
Senior firefighters have warned that balcony fires can be devastating as they can easily spread to adjoining properties, potentially leaving many people homeless if the fire is serious enough.
The Brigade has previously written to manufacturers and retailers highlighting its concerns about barbecues which were being specifically marketed for use on balconies.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said, “Many balconies have combustible materials as part of their construction and there are often combustible items stored in outside spaces so if a fire starts, it can spread quickly.
“Another worry is that wind can fan or carry smouldering ignition sources such as cigarettes and embers from barbecues to lower or adjacent balconies.
“We understand people want to enjoy their outside space if they have it, but please don’t think it won’t happen to you, because it can.
“Don’t be the reason you and your neighbours end up looking for somewhere else to live because of your cigarette or barbecue.”
The Fire Brigade has issued the following advice on how to barbeque safely:
1. Never use a BBQ – including disposables – indoors or on your balcony.
2. Be careful where you position your BBQ – it is suggested to put them on level ground, well away from anything flammable like sheds, fences, trees, or tents.
3. Don't use petrol, paraffin, or any flammable liquids on your BBQ.
4. Carefully supervise children – little ones can all too easily trip and fall, while older children might hurt themselves trying to help.
5. Be pet-aware – dogs (and some cats!) love to snaffle sausages and can cause accidents getting under your feet. To be really safe, keep pets indoors, or at least out of the immediate vicinity of the BBQ.
Value Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |