Barbecues were the recorded ignition source in 346 primary fires in England in 2025/26. This page separates that official annual count from an older incident extract that also searched free-text reports. It covers deaths and casualties, regional data and disposable-barbecue precautions, with sources collected at the end.
Key facts and figures
- 346 primary fires in England had barbecue recorded as the ignition source in 2025/26.
- 45.4% increase from 238 in 2024/25; annual counts fluctuate.
- 1 death in barbecue-ignited primary fires in England in 2025/26.
- 44 non-fatal casualties in those fires, including first aid and precautionary checks.
- 1,624 records in the older 2020–2024 England extract have barbecue as their ignition source, the filter recommended by MHCLG.
- 4,478 records appear in the full 2020–2024 extract, including free-text mentions; this is not a count of fires proven to be caused by barbecues.
- No separate national total for disposable-barbecue ignition: the regular source category does not distinguish disposable models.
- 141 of the 1,624 filtered 2020–2024 records had a fatality/casualty flag; this counts incidents, not people.
Checked on 15 October 2026. FIRE0602 covers 2025/26. The ad hoc incident extract published in July 2025 covers calendar years 2020–2024; it is not a guaranteed annual release.
How many fires are caused by barbecues in the UK each year?
England recorded 346 barbecue-ignited primary fires in 2025/26, up from 238 in 2024/25. The previous three annual totals were 267 in 2023/24, 350 in 2022/23 and 291 in 2021/22. These financial-year figures come from MHCLG table FIRE0602.
The older incident extract contains 4,478 records selected either by ignition source or by a free-text mention of BBQ/barbecue. MHCLG recommends restricting analysis to barbecue as the recorded ignition source: that produces 1,624 records for calendar years 2020–2024. Those calendar-year counts must not be directly compared with financial-year totals.
Why are disposable barbecues so dangerous?
Disposable barbecues can remain hot long after cooking and can ignite nearby material or discarded waste. London Fire Brigade advises against using any barbecue on balconies or in public parks, and warns that discarded disposable models can remain a fire hazard for hours.
The full historical extract has 952 free-text matches for disposable barbecues, but the text was not quality-assured and reporting varies between services. It is not a comprehensive count or proof that 21% of barbecue-caused fires came from disposable models. MHCLG confirmed in September 2026 that the regular ignition-source data cannot distinguish them.
The government published statutory guidelines in August 2026 on supplying disposable barbecues during drought and extreme heat. The current guidance, checked on 15 October, says they must not be supplied in shops or online in Great Britain under the stated conditions and will be reviewed as conditions change. This is distinct from earlier voluntary retailer guidance.
How many people are injured in BBQ accidents in the UK?
Barbecue-ignited primary fires in England caused one death and 44 non-fatal casualties in 2025/26. Non-fatal casualty totals include first aid and precautionary checks, so they should not be described as 44 hospital admissions.
Fire-service statistics do not capture every barbecue burn treated by health services. The older filtered incident extract flags a fatality or casualty at 141 of 1,624 fires (8.7%), but does not state the number of people in each incident.
What kind of fires do barbecues actually cause?
In the filtered 2020–2024 extract, 535 incidents were dwelling fires, 505 other-building fires, 518 other-outdoor primary fires and 66 road-vehicle fires. These categories identify where a fire was recorded; they do not show that it spread from a garden into a home.
The unfiltered extract also contains 2,506 secondary fires identified through narrative text. Ignition source is not required for secondary-fire records, so those incidents cannot provide a comparable barbecue-cause total. The table below distinguishes the regular annual figures from the older filtered extract.
| Measure | Figure | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Barbecue-ignited primary fires | 346 | England, 2025/26 |
| Previous annual primary-fire count | 238 | England, 2024/25 |
| Deaths | 1 | England, 2025/26 |
| Non-fatal casualties | 44 | England, 2025/26 |
| Filtered incident-extract total | 1,624 | England, calendar 2020–2024 |
| Dwelling fires in filtered extract | 535 | England, calendar 2020–2024 |
| Other-building fires in filtered extract | 505 | England, calendar 2020–2024 |
| Filtered incidents with casualty/fatality flag | 141 | England, calendar 2020–2024; incidents, not people |
Which UK areas have the most barbecue fires?
Using MHCLG’s recommended ignition-source filter, Greater London has the largest count in the 2020–2024 extract, with 341 incidents. Greater Manchester has 72; Hampshire and Isle of Wight and West Yorkshire each have 68.
Those are historical service-area counts, not current risk rates. They are not adjusted for population, household numbers or barbecue use. The table uses the same source and filter throughout:
| Fire and rescue service | Filtered incidents | Period and definition |
|---|---|---|
| Greater London | 341 | 2020–2024; barbecue ignition source |
| Greater Manchester | 72 | 2020–2024; barbecue ignition source |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight | 68 | 2020–2024; barbecue ignition source |
| West Yorkshire | 68 | 2020–2024; barbecue ignition source |
The full extract’s free-text search has uneven coverage: only 33 of 44 services returned disposable-barbecue text matches, and Greater London did not use that field. Filtering to recorded ignition source avoids presenting that free-text ranking as a like-for-like measure of causes.
When do barbecue fires happen?
London Fire Brigade’s April 2026 warning reported 127 barbecue-caused fires in April and May over the period it described as 2020–2025. It highlighted an increase as spring weather improved. This is a local seasonal count, not a UK annual total or evidence that every warm weekend produces the same increase.
Is anyone being fined for barbecue fires?
The fire tables do not record fines, and partial council fine counts cannot be divided by unrelated fire totals to calculate an enforcement rate. OPSS and local Trading Standards can enforce product-safety duties. Its August 2026 disposable-barbecue guidance describes measures including suspending supply and, where appropriate, prosecution. Local restrictions on barbecue use should also be checked with the landowner or council.
Do these figures cover the whole of the UK?
The official counts used here cover England. Fire-service statistics for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are published separately. A collection of FOI responses is not necessarily a complete UK total.
When citing a figure, state the nation, period and definition. In particular, distinguish a recorded ignition source from a free-text mention, primary fires from all incidents, and financial years from calendar years.
What do fire services advise?
Never use a barbecue indoors, in a tent or on a balcony. Keep it on stable ground clear of combustible material, children and pets, and never leave it unattended. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and let coals cool completely before disposal; a barbecue can continue producing carbon monoxide after visible flames have gone.
Our carbon monoxide guide covers the separate poisoning risk. Working smoke alarms and an escape plan can provide warning and help people leave safely, but do not guarantee protection from a spreading fire.
Full home barbecue safety guidance sits outside the scope of this statistics page — for the how-to, the practical fire-prevention behaviours that cut everyday ignition risk are exactly what our online Fire Safety Awareness Training course is built around. For workplaces — pubs and restaurants with beer-garden grills, holiday parks, event caterers and hospitality venues — barbecue and outdoor-cooking risk belongs in the fire risk assessment, and trained staff are part of the control measures the Responsible Person must provide.
Frequently asked questions
How many fires are caused by barbecues in the UK each year?
England recorded 346 primary fires with barbecue as the ignition source in 2025/26, compared with 238 in 2024/25. This excludes secondary fires and is not a UK-wide total.
How many people are injured in BBQ accidents in the UK?
The 2025/26 England primary-fire records show one death and 44 non-fatal casualties. They are not a complete count of barbecue burns treated by health services, and non-fatal casualties are not all hospital admissions.
Why are disposable barbecues so dangerous?
They can remain hot and ignite nearby material or waste after cooking. The national ignition-source category does not distinguish disposable barbecues, so it cannot establish their percentage of all barbecue-caused fires.
Which UK areas have the most barbecue fires?
In the older 2020–2024 England extract filtered to barbecue as the ignition source, Greater London recorded 341 incidents, Greater Manchester 72, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight and West Yorkshire 68 each. These are counts, not population-adjusted risk rates.
Are barbecue fires rising or falling?
The latest England primary-fire count rose from 238 in 2024/25 to 346 in 2025/26. Earlier annual counts fluctuate, so the older free-text extract does not support a claim of a continuing steady decline.
Where do UK barbecue fire statistics come from?
MHCLG table FIRE0602 gives annual primary-fire counts by ignition source. Its separate July 2025 ad hoc extract covers calendar years 2020–2024 and includes methodological warnings about free-text matches. Local fire-service releases provide additional context.
Related guides
- Wildfire Statistics UK: Grass, Heath & Moorland Fires
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Statistics UK: Deaths, Incidents & Alarms
- Cooking Fire Statistics UK: Kitchen & Hob Fires
- Smoke Alarm Statistics UK: Ownership, Failures & Lives Saved
- UK Fire Classes Explained: A, B, C, D, F (and L)
- How to Use a Fire Extinguisher: The PASS Method Explained
Sources & references
- MHCLG — FIRE0602 ignition sources, 2025/26
- UK Parliament / MHCLG — Barbecue data and disposable-model limitations, 3 September 2026
- MHCLG — 2020–2024 incident extract and methodology; analysis filtered to barbecue ignition source
- London Fire Brigade — Spring barbecue warning, 23 April 2026
- London Fire Brigade — Barbecue precautions
- OPSS — Statutory guidelines on disposable barbecues, August 2026
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Mark writes about workplace health & safety, fire safety awareness and accredited online training for Fire Safety Awareness Training, part of Online CPD Academy.