Summer means an increased risk of fire: that's what you need to be aware of.
Updated June 5, 2026 by Pierre
When you think of a fire, do you immediately think of Christmas trees catching fire, fondue sets, and campfires that aren't properly set up? Well, we have news for you: summer brings many more risks. Heat, drought, barbecues: firefighters are working overtime during the warmer months. Time to look at where things go wrong and give you some tips so you can take preventative measures and avoid a house fire.
No summer is complete without a barbecue
Where there's smoke, there's fire, so barbecuing is also a major cause of fires in the summer – just think of sparks flying onto a dry hedge, or a barbecue falling onto dry grass. A few tips can help prevent major accidents with barbecuing:
- Place the barbecue at least 3 meters away from facades, hedges and wooden structures.
- Drops of meat can cause high spikes, never throw water on them.
- Allow the hot ash to cool completely before disposing of it – preferably 24 hours
- Keep a lid and fire blanket handy to immediately smother the flames.
Bright, warm electronics
During a heat wave, it can quickly exceed 30 degrees Celsius in an ordinary room – this is not a problem for most electronic devices, but batteries have more trouble with it – the batteries of laptops, smartphones, electric bikes and scooters in particular cannot withstand the heat – the heat can shut down, leak or, in the worst case, ignite such a battery.
- Never charge your e-bike or e-step in direct sunlight or in a closed garage without ventilation.
- If possible, remove the battery from your bike and place it in a cool place.
- Do not leave chargers, power banks or battery-equipped devices in a hot car.
- Do not place electronic devices in direct sunlight.
Dry gardens
Forest fires don't only occur in the Campine heathlands; the grass and shrubs in your garden are also often very dry in summer. A cigarette can create a combustion chamber, so keep that in mind:
- Do not stack flammable materials against a facade or shed.
- Keep the garden hoses connected and within easy reach.
- Do not leave fires or torches burning unattended, extinguish them completely with water before going to sleep; do not let them go out on their own.
- Do not use weed burners with heat.
Prepare for fire
You can never completely rule out a fire; what you can do is be prepared and react in a timely manner, starting by checking all the smoke detectors – You must have at least one on each floor. Test them regularly and replace the battery every year.
Make sure you have good fire extinguishers at home. It is best tobuy fire extinguishers Depending on what you want to protect: a foam fire extinguisher or a fire blanket is ideal for the kitchen, a powder fire extinguisher is also good for general risks. At Fire Protection Hop, you have a wide selection and someone can tell you what is best to use in which room.
And finally, never hesitate to call the fire department, always call 112 immediately if there is a fire, even if you think you can control it yourself, it is better to have the fire department at your door for nothing than to be ten minutes too late.
Barely a foot in the Belgian capital, Pierre launched “InsideBrussels.be” more than 10 years ago, the idea is simple: “What to do? Where to go to eat or have a drink? “. Entrepreneur at heart, this is not his first project! Far from there. EatLocal.io; KingCard.be, Bricabrac.be … Like wine, with time the project improves!
Pierre does not hesitate to share his favorites and his best addresses of Brussels restaurants that he could recommend to you with his eyes closed.
