Crews issue advice after barbecue causes garden fire

Crews have issued safety advice after a barbecue caused a fire in Chelmsford. 

We were called to Epping Close at 6.32pm and two crews from Chelmsford attended.

A fire had started in the garden of a two-storey house, but thankfully the occupants were alerted by a smoke alarm.

Watch Manager Mark Curtis said: "The barbecue was unattended and fell over, setting fire to some old bedding.

"It scorched the back windows and burnt the waste pipes, but thankfully the occupants were alerted and crews were on the scene quickly to extinguish it."

Crews extinguished the fire by 6.47pm.

As the weather is getting warmer, more people will be getting their barbecues out.

This incident is a reminder never to leave your barbecue unattended, set it well away from anything that might catch alight and make sure it is completely extinguished before you leave it.