With summer in full swing and barbecues firing up across the country, our latest research reveals alarming regional hotspots where outdoor cooking has led to the most serious fire incidents in the UK.
We analysed Fire and Rescue Service data from the government’s Incident Recording System (IRS) reported across England from 2020 and 2024, obtained via a Freedom of Information request.
The study looked at 4,478 barbecue-related incidents, with Greater London now the country’s top BBQ fire hotspot, overtaking Greater Manchester for the first time.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the data – and more importantly, give safety tips for enjoying your next barbecue.
The regions experiencing the most barbecue fires
The data reveals that in 2024 alone, there were 640 barbecue-related fire incidents reported across the country.
Greater London recorded the highest number with 61 incidents, while Greater Manchester followed with 58. West Yorkshire reported 51 cases, and Lancashire completed the top four with 37 fires. This marks a notable change from previous years, as Greater London has now overtaken Greater Manchester as the nation’s leading hotspot for barbecue accidents.
Top 10 UK regions most prone to barbecue incidents in 2024
- Greater London: 61 accidents
- Greater Manchester: 58 accidents
- West Yorkshire: 51 accidents
- Lancashire: 37 accidents
- Avon: 33 accidents
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight: 33 accidents
- South Yorkshire: 32 accidents
- Derbyshire: 29 accidents
- Merseyside: 27 accidents
- Essex: 23 accidents
Greater London has now overtaken Greater Manchester as the most BBQ fire-prone area in the country.
Regions with the most barbecue fires over the past five years
Overall, the number of barbecue-related fires has declined significantly since the peak of 1,186 incidents nationwide in 2020, likely due to increased home barbecuing during COVID lockdowns.
However, the data suggests that risk patterns are shifting between major urban centres, with London’s dense population and growing popularity of outdoor living presenting new challenges for barbecue safety.
Greater London’s numbers have remained comparatively stable, consistently recording over 60 incidents each year and leading the country with 61 cases in 2024.
In contrast, Greater Manchester has experienced a steady decline in incidents, falling by 56% from its 2020 peak of 132 cases, to just 58 cases in 2024.
Other regions have also seen significant changes. Avon, for example, recorded a dramatic increase in 2024, with 33 incidents, almost four times higher than its total of just nine in 2023, marking it as a new hotspot to watch.
Year-by-year: Which region topped the list?
- 2020: Greater Manchester, 132 accidents
- 2021: Greater Manchester, 120 accidents
- 2022: West Yorkshire, 96 accidents
- 2023: Greater Manchester, 76 accidents
- 2024: Greater London, 61 accidents