Halifax Home Insurance shows £296 million up in smoke

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Halifax Home Insurance shows £296 million up in smoke

Tue 30th May 2006

Brits are doing £296 million worth of damage to their homes by using potentially lethal accelerants to light barbeques according to research out today from Halifax Home Insurance.

The research from Halifax Home Insurance shows that 1.7 million Brits have used petrol or lighter fuel on their barbeque or outdoor grill.

Aside from the serious health risks of using these accelerants, the use of the use of highly combustible fuels on barbeques undoubtedly contributes to Britain's estimated 1,000 uncontrollable barbeque fires each year, the Bank states.

Halifax found that on average a barbeque fire that gets out of control costs Brits £148, however almost a quarter of a million have caused damage costing between £500 - £2,500.

Vicky Emmott, senior underwriter at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "Millions of Britons risk the health and safety of themselves and their guests by using potentially lethal accelerants to light barbeques. Using petrol or white spirits to light a barbeque is extremely dangerous and could easily result in a fire that is uncontrollable."

The cost of out of control fires can be covered by home insurers such as Halifax Home Insurance but according to DIYnet tips on barbeque safety "gasoline is flammable, toxic and explosive; never under any circumstances start a grill fire using gasoline".

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