That is the safety message the New Zealand Fire Service is using to encourage campers to check their barbecues and gas bottles for leaks, after a major fire ripped through a Canterbury camping ground earlier this week.
Seven caravans, two cabins, a car and a hedge went up in smoke at the Leithfield Beach Motor Camp on Tuesday evening.
It took fire crews about 90 minutes to gain control of the blaze, which is believed to have been started by a gas barbecue.
Fortunately, no-one was injured, but it has sparked the New Zealand Fire Service to issue advice about how to keep barbecues and gas bottles safe.
Dunedin City Fire Brigade senior station officer Mark Dyer recommended mixing dishwashing liquid with some water and applying it with a paint brush, sprayer or just pouring it over any seals or joints on the gas bottle.
"If it bubbles, that means it’s leaking.
"You should tighten the fitting and do the bubble test again. If it keeps bubbling, you should turn it off and take it to get fixed."
He also recommended campers do not cook in caravans or tents with barbecues, or store them inside at night.
"If they’re leaking, lpg, being heavier than air, will just drop to the bottom and fill up a confined space. And if it finds a source of ignition within that area, it goes whoomfa."
He said there had been similar explosions in the past.
Referring to the fire at Leithfield Beach Motor Camp, Mr Dyer said it was fortunate no-one was seriously hurt.
"Any camping ground can be serious. There’s plenty of fuel in caravans and tents. They’re not usually built out of stuff that’s non-flammable.
"You can imagine if there’s some people in a tent, and it goes on fire ... it would be horrible."
Safety tips around lpg
• Before using a barbecue, check the connection between the gas bottle and the fuel line.
• Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue.
• Supervise children around outdoor barbecues.
• Never barbecue in enclosed areas — carbon monoxide could be produced and cause suffocation.
• Always ensure there is adequate ventilation.
• Store and install cylinders in an upright position with the valve uppermost.
• Be careful when changing cylinders. Ensure the valve on the empty cylinder is turned off before disconnecting, and do not turn on the valve of the full cylinder until it is securely connected.
• When storing on boats, ensure cylinders are secured on deck far from hatches so any escaping gas disperses, or are placed in a properly designed and ventilated container above the water line.
