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Holidaymakers were today urged to be careful with barbecues over the summer holidays.
The Fire Service said it attended an increased number of incidents relating to the misuse of barbecues, often with disastrous results, at this time of the year.
"Serious burns and property loss are often the result when barbecue cooking goes bad," senior fire safety officer Mike McEnaney said.
People should check gas bottles and connections before use and keep an eye on what was cooking, and "don't drink and fry".
Mr McEnaney also said caravans and boats, popular for summer entertaining, could be death traps if simple safety tips were not followed.
He said people in caravans had to be even more safety conscious than they were at home because the risk of a small fire turning into something serious was far greater.
Fire alarms should be fitted and proper lighting used, not candles.
Mr McEnaney said boaties should be prepared in case of a fire on board, with firefighting equipment maintained and easily accessible.
"The only burn the Fire Service wants to hear about this summer is sunburn."
- NZPA
