Careless BBQs Cause £296m To Property
Consumers are being advised against using irregular accelerants to light summer BBQs as although they may be handy, they are also highly dangerous and can resort in hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
The average cost of damage to homes and gardens resulting from barbeque accidents totals a staggering £296 million, revealed by new figures.
Halifax Home Insurance discovered the average cost of BBQ damage per household was £148 although, a quarter of a million of people have caused between £500 and £2,500 of damage.
Other unprecedented products used to light a BBQ include lager, liquor and perfume, helping to contribute to some 1,000 uncontrollable barbeque fires each year.
Vicky Emmott, senior underwriter at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "Using petrol or white spirits to light a barbeque is extremely dangerous and could easily result in a fire that is uncontrollable."
She went on to say that homeowners should have adequate insurance in place but should also be careful as acting irresponsibly with a barbeque could invalidate any subsequent claim.
