BBQ fire risk on our beaches
Published
Thursday 26 June, 2025
Updated
Thursday 26 June, 2025
Swale Borough Council has issued an urgent safety warning about the dangers of lighting fires and using disposable barbecues on the borough's beaches and in open spaces.
The council is emphasizing the severe risk to public safety and the environment as temperatures rise.
Lighting fires, including disposable barbecues, is prohibited on all of Swale's public spaces, including the Isle of Sheppey’s popular bathing beaches, under council bye-laws.
These rules are in place to protect people, property, and the local environment.
The warning comes as fire services across the country continue to deal with the consequences of careless outdoor fires, with several incidents in recent years.
In an incident last week, on the Isle of Sheppey, a roof and fence were caught alight due to a disposable barbecue, thought to be extinguished, being discarded in a bin.
Similar situations can and have led to refuse lorries catching on fire.
In another incident, a child received serious burns after stepping on sand where a disposable barbecue had been buried, highlighting the hidden dangers.
These are the types of serious incidents the council is determined to prevent in Swale.
Hot coals from barbecues can easily ignite dry grass, and discarded units pose a significant threat.
Burying disposable barbecues in the sand is not a safe method of disposal; they can retain heat for many hours, creating a hidden hazard for other beach users, particularly children and animals.
Disposing of them in litter bins also frequently leads to bin fires, which can spread to become larger, uncontrolled blazes.
Long periods of warm weather have left grasslands and other open spaces exceptionally dry and vulnerable to fast-spreading fires.
Cllr Dolley Wooster, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, said:
“We are asking people to be careful and to understand the serious risk that lighting fires or using disposable BBQs in our public spaces creates.
“You are not only putting yourself in danger, but also other people enjoying our beaches and our cherished local wildlife.
“The current hot weather results in a very dry environment, increasing the risk of fires that can quickly become uncontrollable and cause devastating damage.
“We want everyone to enjoy our beautiful, award-winning beaches, but you must do so responsibly.
“We remind everyone that lighting fires or using single-use BBQs is not permitted.”
Mark Gosling, Group Manager for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, added:
“As summer approaches, we encourage everyone to enjoy the warmer weather safely.
“If you’re planning on lighting a barbeque, position it away from greenery and property, have a means of extinguishing close to hand, try not to leave the barbeque unattended, and always wait for it to be fully out and cooled before disposing.
“Lastly, make sure the barbeque is in a designated location and if it becomes out of control then move to a safe distance and call 999.”
Swale Borough Council encourages residents and visitors to help protect the community and enjoy a safe summer by leaving barbecues at home.
