Set summer barbecues to sizzle but don’t get burnt
SUMMER is coming, Britons are dusting down their barbecues and insurers are bracing themselves for the annual spike in garden fires.
Insurer Aviva settles hundreds of claims every year caused by barbecues, garden bonfires, fire-pits and fashionable chimeneas, with claims typically jumping almost 40 per cent from May to September.
The insurance giant is urging barbecue lovers to stay careful after lighting up, as claims costs range from £2,000 to £6,000.
You might need to keep a careful watch on your neighbours, too, as flying embers and out-of-control blazes spread easily.
Fences, sheds, garages, hedges and trees, as well as conservatories and even houses can feel the burn, said Aviva’s property claims director Kelly Whittington: “Fire spreads easily so always think twice about having barbecues and bonfires on breezier days.”
Most home insurance policies will cover fire damage to properties, regardless of where the fire begins.
If your home is affected, contact your own insurer first. “It will consider whether or not to recover losses if someone else was responsible,” Whittington said.
Keep a close watch over any barbecue or fire, be cautious with accelerants, and keep your distance from neighbouring fences and hedges. She added: “It’s courteous to let your neighbour know you are lighting a fire, particularly if they have washing on the line.”
Make sure any coals are not still glowing before you dispose of them and be careful where you discard matches or cigarettes. “Maybe keep a bucket of water or sand handy, too, just in case,” Whittington said.