Burning Issue for Exmouth Beach Goers

By ALGrace | Saturday, June 27, 2009, 00:38

What’s the best thing to do with your hot

coals after a beach barbecue? Throw it all in a bin and hope no one

notices? It’s okay if no one’s

looking, right? Kick a bit of sand over the fire pit and hope no children settle

down to dig there? Think again!

A recent spate of seafront and Maer rubbish

bin fires is behind a drive to persuade the public to dispose of barbecues

safely and responsibly. Exmouth firefighters have teamed up with local RNLI

lifeguards and East Devon District Council in a bid to promote beach barbecue

safety, handing out advice leaflets to the public over the Summer season.

According to Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service PR Officer Paul

Slaven, district council refuse collectors regularly find lit barbecues dumped

in seafront bins. He said: "By giving advice on the correct disposal of

barbecues we hope to avoid injury and further fires along the seafront.

"People may not realise that when you

remove a barbecue from the beach, the sand beneath can still be extremely hot

and if stepped on will cause a severe burn.

"By using a bucket of water to

extinguish the barbecue and then cooling the surrounding area you can stop the

risk."

Rachel Currie, 16, a student from Exeter,

regularly visits the beach with friends and said: “I’ve seen plenty of people

with disposable barbecues burying them or throwing them in bins when they’re

probably still hot.

“Someone in my group once started to but I

stopped them. Maybe the Council should build some permanent barbecues on the

beach, not just the Maer, and we’d just have to pay for charcoal. It would

ensure the beach is safe for children.”

Helen Bovey, 16, travels from Kingsteignton,

near Newton Abbot, four times a week during the summer. She said: “It’s common

sense really – we just stay on the seafront and wait for our disposable

barbecue to cool down, then carry it in to town.

“There’s so much rubbish on the beach,

though. It can end up looking quite shabby on a busy day. I think there’d be

far less mess if bins were provided closer to the beach. The thing is, in the

sun, everyone gets lazy, don’t they?”

As a community based, people-led website,

Exmouth People is keen to hear your thoughts about how the beach and esplanade

could be improved for locals and visitors. Join The Beach group and share your

suggestions or post details of events and get-togethers. Add your comments on

this story below and for more information about barbecue

safety, visit the Fire Kills Campaign website.

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Comments

Re: Burning issue for Exmouth beach goers.

This story was originally posted on Exmouth People in June 2009, but the dangers it highlights are still relevant.

I believe Exmouth Beach is run by East Devon District Council. EDDC is currently stating the following information about barbecues on its website:

"Disposable Barbecues are permitted on EDDC-controlled beaches, but must be removed from the beach when finished and disposed of carefully. Do no place them in to plastic litter bins.

It is not permitted to light a fire on an EDDC controlled beach.

A part of The Maer in Exmouth is set aside for barbecues. There is limited space, which is available on a first-come first-served basis."

(http://tinyurl.com/6vum4lo).

No one seems to have mentioned The Maer on this forum. The Maer barbeque area appeared to be operating last year (2011), although in my view it was looking a little shabby. I'm unclear on the current situation as we approach the start of the 2012.

Disposable barbecues were in evidence last year on Exmouth Beach. Apart from the fact that they are a fire hazard and are dangerous, in my view they produce too much smoke while the cooking odours, etc, are not appropriate in a public area.

Banning them altogether may sound draconian, but it might be a more sensible option, and a lot safer for all of us. And those that want to have a BBQ should use The Maer...

By TheGreenMan at 17:00 on 24/03/12
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In Australia they have dozens of gas powered BBQs around beach areas supplied by the local council. The Aussies seem to manage not to abuse them or set fire to themselves. Mind you can't say the same for us Brits. Idiot kids would probably smash them up and cause a huge gas explosion, or some muppet would fall face first into one and then sue the council because there weren't any signs telling them it is dangerous to put their faces on the BBQ.

By PaulyB2402 at 09:23 on 24/03/12
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What I find incredible is that people manage to put piping hot barbecues in bins. I mean, the things are designed to burn meat, so how do you pick them up without cooking your hands? The idea of having permanent public BBQs is good in theory but sounds a tad impractical. Too many people would want to use them, someone would have to be permanently looking after them to make sure idiots and small children didn't hurt themselves, and what's wrong with sandwiches anyway?

By samsonsobers at 15:50 on 29/06/09
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Also, disposal bbqs just make food taste of charcoal and paraffin. Stay well clear is my advice on this one!

By PatrickCarbry at 19:38 on 28/06/09
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I really don't like those disposable barbecues AT ALL. My daughter once had a nasty accident when she caught her foot and tripped on one of the wire frames from a disposable barbie. I think they're wasteful too. Fixed barbecues are a great idea and they also encourage people to cook in the right areas too.

By A_McCormack at 17:41 on 28/06/09
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