Safety and Maintenance FAQs
PREPARATION & SAFETY CHECKS
Check that your BBQ is stable, correctly assembled and free from damage. Remove grease build-up and make sure ventilation openings are clear. For gas BBQs, inspect the hose, regulator and connections, and carry out the leak checks described in your instruction manual.
Read the instruction manual, complete the assembly and remove all packaging from inside and around the BBQ. Check that all components are securely fitted. Follow any first-use cleaning or heating instructions, and leak-test gas connections before lighting a gas BBQ.
Inspect your BBQ for rust, damage, loose fixings and grease build-up. Check for insects or debris blocking burners, air vents or gas burner tubes. Inspect the gas hose and regulator, and carry out a leak test before using a gas BBQ again.
Light surface rust may be removable using the cleaning method recommended for the affected material. However, do not use a BBQ with holes, weakened supports, damaged burners or heavily corroded components. Replace affected parts before cooking, and contact Fire Mountain if you are unsure.
Do not use your BBQ if a damaged or missing part could affect its stability, fuel system or safe operation. Contact Fire Mountain for advice on suitable replacement parts. Never bypass safety components or make temporary repairs to gas fittings.
Have heat-resistant BBQ gloves, long-handled utensils and a phone available. Keep the cooking area clear and know how to shut off the fuel supply. If you keep a fire extinguisher nearby, make sure it is suitable for the fire risk and you know how to use it.
CHOOSING A SAFE COOKING LOCATION
Position your BBQ outdoors on a firm, level, non-combustible surface, such as a suitable paved patio. Keep it away from fences, sheds, plants, garden furniture and busy walkways. Maintain the clearances specified in your BBQ instruction manual.
Follow the minimum clearances stated in your BBQ instruction manual, including any clearance above the cooking area. There is no single distance suitable for every model. Keep combustible materials well away, and never position a BBQ where it obstructs an escape route.
We recommend using your BBQ on a suitable non-combustible surface rather than wooden or composite decking. Heat, hot grease and falling embers can damage decking or start a fire. A BBQ mat does not automatically make an unsuitable location safe.
Do not use a BBQ beneath a parasol, fabric canopy or ordinary garden gazebo. Heat and sparks can ignite overhead materials. A purpose-built BBQ shelter must meet the BBQ manufacturer's ventilation and clearance requirements. Open sides alone do not guarantee that the location is safe.
Do not use a gas or charcoal BBQ on a balcony. Flames, sparks and hot embers can spread fire to neighbouring properties or the building above. Balcony restrictions may also apply through your landlord, building management or lease.
No. Gas and charcoal BBQs must be used outdoors in a suitable open space. Never use them inside a house, garage, shed, tent or conservatory, even with doors open. They create fire hazards and can produce dangerous carbon monoxide.
Yes. Both gas and charcoal BBQs can produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas you cannot see or smell. Never use them in enclosed spaces. Smouldering charcoal can continue producing carbon monoxide after cooking has finished.
Avoid barbecuing in strong winds, storms or heavy rain. Wind can affect flames and blow hot embers towards nearby materials. Never move a lit BBQ into a garage or beneath an unsuitable cover to escape the weather.
GAS BBQ & GAS BOTTLE SAFETY
Fire Mountain gas BBQs use propane gas. Check your model's instruction manual for the required regulator pressure and suitable cylinder connection. The regulator must match both the BBQ and the gas bottle. Never force an incompatible connection or use an improvised adaptor.
Connect the gas bottle outdoors, away from flames and ignition sources, with the burner controls and gas supply switched off. Follow the instructions for your regulator and cylinder. Keep the bottle upright, check the hose is secure and leak-test the connections before lighting.
With the BBQ cold and burner controls off, follow your manual's leak-testing procedure. This usually involves applying leak-detection fluid or soapy water to the connections and turning on the gas supply without lighting the BBQ. Growing bubbles indicate a leak. Turn off the gas and do not use the BBQ until the leak is resolved. Never test with a flame.
Stop using the BBQ immediately. Turn off the gas at the cylinder only if you can safely reach it. Keep people away and avoid flames, smoking or operating electrical switches nearby. Move to a safe distance and contact your gas supplier's emergency service. Call 999 if there is fire or immediate danger.
Keep the gas bottle upright in the position specified in your BBQ manual, away from hot surfaces. Ensure the hose is not stretched, kinked or touching heated parts. The gas shut-off must remain accessible in an emergency.
Only place a gas bottle inside the cabinet during cooking if your model's instruction manual explicitly allows it and specifies a suitable cylinder size. Some cabinets are for storage only. Never assume that a bottle is safe inside simply because it fits.
Yes. Open the main cooking lid before lighting a gas BBQ to prevent unburnt gas collecting beneath it. Follow your model's lighting sequence, and open any side burner cover before using that burner.
Turn off the burner controls and gas supply. Open the lid and allow unburnt gas to disperse for the time specified in your manual before attempting to relight. Never repeatedly operate the ignition while gas continues flowing. If the problem persists, stop using the BBQ and contact Fire Mountain.
Inspect the hose and regulator regularly, and replace them immediately if damaged, cracked, worn or leaking. Follow the replacement interval stated in your Fire Mountain manual and any expiry markings. Use replacements with the correct specification for your BBQ and gas bottle.
CHARCOAL & KAMADO BBQ SAFETY
Use suitable BBQ firelighters and follow your BBQ's lighting instructions. If using a charcoal chimney starter, place it on the appropriate heat-resistant surface specified by its manufacturer. Wear heat-resistant gloves when handling it, and keep children and pets away.
Never use petrol, paraffin, methylated spirits or other improvised fuels. We recommend suitable solid BBQ firelighters instead of lighter fluid. Never pour any lighting liquid onto hot or burning charcoal. Do not use lighter fluid in a ceramic kamado.
Follow the fuel quantity or loading limit in your BBQ manual. Do not overfill the firebox or block airflow. Excess charcoal can create excessive heat and damage components. The correct amount depends on the BBQ's design and the cooking method.
Only add charcoal during cooking if your BBQ's instructions allow it. Use the designated access point, suitable tools and heat-resistant gloves. Avoid disturbing hot components or creating clouds of ash. Never add lighter fluid or liquid fuel to an existing fire.
Use only fuels approved in your BBQ manual. Where permitted, small amounts of untreated smoking wood can add flavour. Do not use painted timber, treated wood, plywood or garden waste. A charcoal BBQ should not be used as a garden bonfire.
A sudden rush of air into a hot kamado can cause a burst of flame known as flashback. Wearing heat-resistant gloves, stand back and lift the lid slightly, pausing before opening it further. Keep your face away from the opening and follow your kamado's instructions.
Only operate both cooking areas together if your specific dual fuel BBQ manual permits it. Keep charcoal in the designated charcoal chamber and never place it over gas burners. If you are unsure about your Fire Mountain model, contact us before using both sides simultaneously.
STAYING SAFE WHILE COOKING
No. A responsible adult should supervise a lit BBQ throughout cooking. Stay alert to changing flames, grease build-up and nearby activity. Avoid alcohol while operating the BBQ, and keep people away while it cools after use.
Create a clear cooking area away from games, seating and busy routes. Keep children and pets away from the BBQ, gas bottle and hot tools. Remember that the lid, body and accessories can remain hot long after cooking has finished.
No. Wait until the BBQ is fully extinguished and completely cold before moving it. Moving a hot BBQ can cause burns, spill burning charcoal or damage gas connections. Follow the moving instructions, particularly for heavy ceramic kamados.
Flare-ups commonly occur when fat or oil drips onto hot burners or charcoal. Keep the grease tray and cooking chamber clean, trim excess fat and avoid excessive oil. If a small flare-up occurs, move food away from the flames only if you can do so safely.
Keep people away and do not move the BBQ. If safely accessible, turn off the gas supply on a gas BBQ. For a grease fire inside a lidded gas BBQ, keep the lid closed. If flames spread, involve the cylinder or cannot be controlled safely, move away and call 999.
No. Water can cause burning fat to spit and spread, making the fire worse. Do not throw water onto a grease fire or a hot gas BBQ. Keep your distance, shut off the gas only if safe, and call 999 if the fire is spreading or uncontrolled.
Use long-handled utensils and dry, heat-resistant BBQ gloves. Keep loose sleeves and clothing away from flames. Treat cooking grills, pizza stones, warming racks and lid handles as potentially hot. Place hot accessories on a suitable non-combustible surface away from other people.
FOOD PREPARATION & COOKING SAFETY
Keep raw meat separate from cooked food and ready-to-eat items such as salads and bread. Use separate chopping boards, plates and utensils. Wash your hands after handling raw meat, and clean preparation surfaces thoroughly. Never return cooked food to a plate that held raw meat without washing it first.
Use separate utensils for raw and cooked meat, or wash them thoroughly between uses. This includes tongs, forks, knives and serving plates. Keep raw meat juices and used marinades away from cooked food.
Use a clean food thermometer to check the thickest part, avoiding bone. For foods requiring thorough cooking, such as chicken, burgers and sausages, UK guidance recommends a core temperature of 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination. Do not rely on a browned exterior alone.
Keep chilled food refrigerated until needed, using a cool box with ice packs when necessary. Bring out small batches rather than leaving everything outside. Protect food from insects and keep raw food separate. Cool leftovers promptly and refrigerate them within one to two hours.
SWITCHING OFF, COOLING & CLEANING
Follow the shutdown sequence in your BBQ manual. Before leaving the BBQ, ensure all burner controls are off, the gas supply is shut off at the cylinder or regulator, and every flame is extinguished. Leave the BBQ in its safe outdoor position to cool.
Follow your BBQ manual. On many lidded charcoal BBQs and kamados, closing the lid and air vents cuts off oxygen so the charcoal gradually goes out. Do not pour water into a hot ceramic kamado. Keep the BBQ outdoors and allow it to cool completely.
Wait until the BBQ and its fuel are completely cold. Cooling time varies with the model, temperature and amount of charcoal, so a fixed waiting period is not a reliable safety check. Never fit a cover over a warm BBQ or handle hot internal components.
Wait until the ash and charcoal are fully extinguished and completely cold. Use a non-combustible container if collecting ash, and keep it away from combustible materials. Never put hot or smouldering ash into a wheelie bin. Follow your local council's disposal guidance.
Accumulated fat can ignite and cause a grease fire. Clean the cooking grills, grease tray, drip pan and internal surfaces as directed in your manual. Check grease collection areas before each cook. Allow the BBQ to cool and isolate the gas supply before maintenance.
STORING YOUR BBQ & FUEL
Clean and dry your BBQ, remove cold ash and grease, and make sure it is completely extinguished before storage. Use a suitable cover once the BBQ is cold. Store propane bottles separately outdoors, and inspect the BBQ thoroughly before using it again.
Store propane gas bottles upright outdoors in a well-ventilated place, away from heat, ignition sources, drains and building entrances. Keep the valve closed. Do not store them in a house, garage, shed or cellar. Treat empty bottles with the same care because they may still contain gas.
Yes. For storage, turn off the gas supply and disconnect the cylinder following the regulator manufacturer's instructions. Carry this out outdoors, away from ignition sources, once the BBQ is switched off and cool. Store the propane bottle upright in a suitable outdoor location.
Keep unused charcoal and smoking wood dry and away from heat, sparks and naked flames. Store firelighters in their original packaging, following the label instructions, and out of reach of children and pets. Never return hot or partly burnt charcoal to its storage bag.