FIREFIGHTERS have issued safety advice after a barbecue sparked a garage fire.

Crews from Braintree and Dunmow were called to a property in Rayne Road, Braintree, around 7.34pm yesterday (Sunday, June 14).

They arrived to find a garage alight and were able to extinguish the blaze by 8.07pm.

The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental, with crews believing it was started by a barbecue.

Essex Fire Service has issued the following safety advice for cooking outdoors as a result of the incident:

  • Make sure your barbecue is well away from garages, sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste
  • Never use petrol or paraffin to start or revive your barbecue; only use recognised lighters or starter fuels on coal
  • Keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies
  • Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues
  • Don't leave a barbecue or any cooking unattended.Empty ashes onto bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins. If they’re hot, they can melt the plastic and start a fire
  • Don’t drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the barbecue or any cooking