When it comes to lighting a fire, the most important thing to consider is fire safety. Nobody wants their BBQ or garden party ruined because the fire has gotten out of hand, or someone has been injured. There are a few simple rules to follow in fire safety, and the majority of it is just common sense.
Firstly you need to consider where you are going to put your BBQ/ firepit, you must ensure that they are placed firmly on a hard, flat ground to avoid them toppling over and not directly on any grass. They should be away from any sheds, fences, hanging branches or flammable materials. Make sure that the area is free from any obstructions, and always check the weather forecast before lighting, to avoid any windy conditions, especially when the ground is so dry.
Next, we come to lighting the fire, position your BBQ/fire pit where it will be used, as you will not be able to move it around once lit. Your charcoal should line the bottom of the BBQ about 2-3 inches deep. Always allow enough time after lighting before cooking, so that the charcoals reach their best temperature and NEVER use any accelerants, like petrol to get your fire going.
Onto the general use of a BBQ/ firepit, you must never leave a fire unsupervised, and only one person should be responsible for the fire and cooking. It is a good idea to have a small spray bottle of water at hand, this will help to control the heat from the charcoals and minimise burning the food. You can also have a small bucket of water in a safe place to help with any emergency first aid. It is best that you are not under the influence of alcohol, if you are manning the fire, or cooking. Make sure you limit the number of people around the fire and beware of any young children or pets.
Once you have eaten, and enjoyed your night, you need to think about the aftercare of your fire, empty any cool ashes onto bare garden soil to let cool completely, and never put any hot ashes/ coals in bins, as these will melt the plastic and catch fire. You will need to clean out the BBQ of any fat and grease. Remember to only move the BBQ once cool, it's usually best to do this the day after, to ensure it has cooled down completely.
