Drought and fire risk: can you use your plancha or barbecue this summer?

Drought and fire risk: can you use your plancha or barbecue this summer?

Every summer, droughts and wildfire risks lead the authorities to tighten prevention measures in many départements. One question then comes up very often: can you still use your plancha or barbecue?

This year, the situation is particularly worrying. The fires affecting several French regions are a reminder of how the slightest carelessness can have dramatic consequences for residents, firefighters and our environment.

This article is not meant to comment on these events, but simply to answer the questions many of you are asking. As the rules can vary depending on the département, the municipality and the fire risk level, we wanted to gather the main information and the right habits to adopt for cooking outdoors safely.

At Maison LE MARQUIER, our priority is to give you clear information and to remind you of the essentials: safety and compliance with local rules must always come first.

Our recommendations at a glance:

🪵 Charcoal barbecues braziers
🟠 Maximum vigilance

✔ Check local orders
✔ Beware of wind and embers
✔ Only use suitable firelighters
✔ Never leave unattended

🔥 Gas plancha
🟡 Depends on local orders

✔ Check the restrictions in your municipality or département
✔ Set up on a stable, clear surface

⚡ Electric plancha
🟢 Generally less affected*

✔ Check any local restrictions
✔ Follow the usual safety instructions

🌲 Pellet barbecue
⚪ Special case

✔ Specific operation, rarely mentioned explicitly in local orders
✔ When in doubt, apply the precautionary principle and consult the local authorities

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Should you check the regulations before lighting your plancha or barbecue?

Yes. It's the first thing to do.
Restrictions may be set by:
prefectural orders;
municipal orders;
the rules of campsites, residences or co-owned properties.
These measures sometimes change very quickly depending on weather conditions and the fire risk level. Before any use, we therefore recommend checking the information published by your prefecture or town hall.

Can you use a charcoal barbecue or a brazier?
The charcoal barbecue is the one that requires the greatest vigilance.

Even in the absence of a ban, a few common-sense rules are essential:
-never use petrol, methylated spirits or any other flammable liquid to light it;
-prefer suitable firelighters;
-set up your barbecue on a stable, clear, non-combustible surface;
-keep it away from any vegetation, hedge or flammable material;
-avoid any use in strong wind, which can blow embers or sparks around;
-never leave a barbecue unattended;
-wait until the embers are completely out before disposing of them.
In periods of drought, caution must be at its maximum.

Can you use a gas plancha?
Depending on the area, some restrictions may also apply to gas-powered appliances.
There is no single rule that applies everywhere in France. Always check the orders in force in your département or municipality before any use.

Can you use an electric plancha?
An electric plancha produces no open flame, but that does not mean it is automatically allowed in all circumstances.
Here again, you should comply with any local restrictions and use it in a safe environment, on a suitable surface and away from any flammable material.

And what about pellet barbecues?
Pellet barbecues work in a particular way: they are powered by electricity, but use wood pellets as fuel in a closed firebox.
To date, prefectural orders do not systematically mention them specifically. Their status may therefore vary depending on how the local texts are worded.
When in doubt, we recommend checking the provisions that apply in your municipality or département. If the regulations are not explicit, the precautionary principle remains the best approach.

Our tips for cooking outdoors safely

Whatever your cooking appliance:
check the instructions of the local authorities before any use;
always set up your equipment on a stable, non-combustible surface;
keep it away from dry grass, hedges, trees and flammable materials;
keep a means of extinguishing a fire nearby whenever possible (bucket of water, garden hose or suitable extinguisher);
never leave a cooking appliance unattended;
let your equipment cool down completely before moving or storing it.
 
A responsibility that concerns us all
Outdoor cooking is above all a moment of conviviality and sharing. But in a context of drought and high fire risk, each of us can help protect our environment by adopting the right habits.

More than a question of permission, it is a question of responsibility.
Before lighting your plancha or barbecue, take a few moments to check the rules in force and adapt your use to the conditions of the day.

To go further: using your plancha well also means looking after it well. In its article “How to take care of your plancha?”, Minizap looks back at common misconceptions about maintenance and the right habits to extend the life of your equipment, citing LE MARQUIER.

Enjoying outdoor cooking also means doing it with care.