Firefighters are urging people to make sure they dispose of barbecues safely after a fire in Sudbury Height Avenue in Greenford in the early hours of this morning.

The fire started on a timber decking close to a shed between two rows of terraced houses before the fire to spread to two end of terrace properties.

One house was completely damaged by fire. A second house suffered fire damage to the first floor and roof.

All properties within the two terrace blocks were evacuated. There are no reports of any injuries.

Station manager Ben King, who was at the scene, said: “Crews worked hard to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

“There was a lot of smoke in the vicinity and we urged residents to close their windows and take extra care when driving in the area.

“Firefighters were at the scene through the night.”

The Brigade’s fire investigators believe the blaze was caused by a disposable barbecue which had been left on the decking.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “It appears that a resident had been using a disposable barbecue and was it left on the timber decking which caught alight.

“It is really important that people don’t use barbecues on balconies or on top of tower blocks as you could be putting the lives of the residents inside the building at risk.

“Always make sure barbecues are completely cool before leaving them unattended.”

The Brigade was called at 0022 and the fire was under control at 0405. Ten fire engines and around 72 firefighters and officers from Wembley, Northolt, Southall, Park Royal, Harrow and Acton fire stations attended the scene.

Barbecue safety

All you need to know to barbecue safely

When the sun comes out or it’s dry for a while, Londoners love to fire up their barbecues and cook outdoors.

Marinating your chicken and making sure your sausages don’t burn isn’t the only thing you need to be thinking about. If you follow our tips you’ll be able to barbecue safely until your heart’s content.

What chefs need to know

• Never use a barbecue indoors or on a balcony
• Make sure barbecues are placed on level ground where they will not tip over
• Keep barbecues away from your home, sheds, fences, garden furniture, trees, shrubs and tents
• Don’t drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the barbecue
• Don’t put the barbecue where people have to squeeze past it
• Keep children, pets and garden games well away from the cooking area
• Never leave the barbecue unattended
• Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues
• Only use approved barbecue fuel or fire lighters – never use petrol or paraffin

After you’ve cooked

• When you have finished cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before you try to move it
• Empty the cold ash onto bare garden soil – never put it in the dustbin
• Where possible, keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies

Tips for gas barbecues

• Take extra care when turning bottled gas barbecues on and off
• Make sure the controls and the gas cylinder valve are turned off before you change the cylinder
• Make sure all joints are tightened, safe and secure
• Change the gas cylinder in the open air
• When you have finished cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before the barbecue controls; this makes sure any leftover gas in the pipe is used up
• Store your gas cylinders outside and protected from frost and sunlight
• Never store gas cylinders under the stairs- if there is a fire they might explode and block your escape route
• If you think there might be a leak in the gas cylinder connections or pipe, brush soapy water over all of the joints and watch out for bubbles
• If you have a leaky joint, try to tighten it (but don’t over tighten it) and test for bubbles again. If unsure do not use the barbecue – seek specialist advice