Fire service warn over disposable barbecues after rubbish vehicle catches fire

Kingsbridge Fire Station were called to a vehicle fire where they found seven disposable barbecues. 

A spokesperson for Kingsbridge Fire Station called it a "rubbish end" to their weekend as they were called to a rubbish collection vehicle on fire.

They were called shortly after 6pm yesterday evening, Sunday 7 August, to a vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found that the driver had shown "quick thinking" and had tipped the burning load of rubbish onto the tarmac of a car park to prevent the fire spreading to the vehicle itself and "escalation" of the situation. 

The contents of the rubbish vehicle including seven disposable barbecues - credit Kingsbridge Fire Station

The spokesperson said: "In total we counted SEVEN disposable barbecues within the rubbish. One of which undoubtedly was the ignition source of the fire.

"Please use disposable barbecues with great caution during these periods of hot & dry weather we are having. The radiated heat from the barbecue is more than capable of igniting dry grass. Make sure you have the means of extinguishing a small fire (water, sand, fire extinguisher) should you start one.

"Always ensure that barbecues are fully out and cool before disposing of them in bins!"

The contents of the rubbish vehicle including seven disposable barbecues - credit Kingsbridge Fire Station

The spokesperson continued: "Our crew used a hose-reel jet to dampen down and extinguish the fire before shovelling it back into the load area of the refuse vehicle once it was cool."