FOI Request 2034

Status: Complete

Date received: March 2025


Question Asked:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information regarding fire brigade callouts related to BBQ use in your service area:

The total number of fire service callouts related specifically to BBQs for each of the calendar years:

2022, 2023, 2024

For each year, please categorise the BBQ-related incidents where possible into the following type:

  • Smoke only (no fire present)

  • Fire resulting in structural or property damage linked to BBQ use

  • False alarm triggered by BBQ smoke

  • Incidents involving injuries or where medical attention was required due to BBQ use

How many of these incidents were linked to the use of disposable BBQs?

How many incidents were recorded where BBQs were used in inappropriate or unsafe locations (e.g. balconies, woodland, near flammable materials)?

How many repeat callouts (i.e. two or more incidents at the same location) for BBQ-related issues were recorded during this period?

Please include any information captured in the free text sections of incident reports where relevant search terms such as “BBQ”, “barbeque”, “disposable BBQ”, or “disposable barbeque” have been identified.


Our Response:

Please see below the data requested for 2022, 2023 and 2024. We cannot provide the specific information requested so it has been split into three different types of incidents:

False Alarm incidents with the False Alarm reason recorded on the Incident Recording System as Good Intent false alarm>>Fire>>BBQ:

foi_2134_false_alarms.pdf

Primary fire incidents involving property where the source of ignition was recorded on the Incident Recording System as Cooking Appliance - Barbeque:

Incident No

Station

Time of Call

Incident Category

Property Category

Property Type

Casualties

Ignition Source

Fire Damage Area

Fire Start Location

2204006350

Wilmslow

17/04/22 17:17

Fire

Dwelling

Up to 3 storeys

No

Cooking Appliance - Barbeque

Up to 5

External structures

2205007282

Frodsham

19/05/22 20:10

Fire

Non Residential

Private Garden Shed

No

Cooking Appliance - Barbeque

6 - 10

Refuse store

2212003060

Warrington

09/12/22 14:05

Fire

Dwelling

Self contained Sheltered Housing

No

Cooking Appliance - Barbeque

Up to 5

Bathroom / Toilet

2404007820

Alsager

22/04/24 08:18

Fire

Non Residential

Private Garden Shed

No

Cooking Appliance -Barbeque

Up to 5

External fittings

2405000825

Warrington

02/05/24 18:59

Fire

Dwelling

House - single occupancy

No

Cooking Appliance - Barbeque

Up to 5

External fittings

Fire Incidents where the property type was recorded on the Incident Recording System as Outdoor>>Outdoor equipment and machinery>>Barbeque:

Incident No

Station

Time of Call

Incident Category

Property Category

Property Type

Casualties

2202000292

Warrington

01/02/2022 22:29

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2203010954

Alsager

26/03/2022 14:46

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2203011553

Macclesfield

27/03/2022 17:12

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

1 x injury

2204005908

Widnes

16/04/2022 19:38

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2204005922

Winsford

16/04/2022 19:55

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2205008436

Ellesmere Port

22/05/2022 18:39

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2205008436

Stockton Heath

28/05/2022 19:50

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2205011679

Northwich

31/05/2022 14:15

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2206003720

Congleton

10/06/2022 19:23

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2206006968

Birchwood

17/06/2022 21:29

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2206008289

Frodsham

20/06/2022 21:09

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207001126

Macclesfield

04/07/2022 12:57

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207003069

Congleton

08/07/2022 21:20

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207003841

Macclesfield

10/07/2022 17:55

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207004360

Widnes

11/07/2022 19:46

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207006491

Frodsham

16/07/2022 10:17

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207006978

Northwich

17/07/2022 09:58

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207007078

Stockton Heath

17/07/2022 14:34

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

22070007369

Northwich

17/07/2022 21:39

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207010317

Winsford

22/07/2022 06:21

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207010736

Macclesfield

23/07/2022 11:30

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207013661

Penketh

30/07/2022 17:14

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2207014085

Stockton Heath

31/07/2022 20:36

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2208001475

Crewe

04/08/2022 18:15

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2208006988

Chester

14/08/2022 17:51

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2208007276

Crewe

14/08/2022 22:09

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2209007243

Bollington

15/09/2022 11:47

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2209007243

Powey Lane

19/09/2022 17:04

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2212002856

Warrington

08/12/2022 22:08

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2305008617

Chester

21/05/2023 17:33

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2305012908

Tarporley

30/05/2023 19:00

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2306002420

Northwich

05/06/2023 18:18

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2308004485

Audlem

12/08/2023 11:54

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2309001105

Crewe

03/09/2023 20:21

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2309001566

Congleton

04/09/2023 20:44

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2401005392

Alsager

16/01/2024 17:23

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2405008015

Crewe

19/05/2024 20:51

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2408000431

Winsford

01/08/2024 22:24

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

2409006469

Northwich

17/09/2024 18:45

Fire

Outdoor Structure

Barbeque

No

Data regarding incidents at repeat locations, injury information and where the fire started has been included where appropriate.

Currently the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Incident Recording System (IRS) has insufficient facilities for the comprehensive recording, and subsequent analysis, of the incident types you have requested. Therefore, due to the specific information asked for, CFRS cannot provide some of the data requested.


Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO


Back to FOI requests


Last updated: Thursday, 22 January 2026


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