Barbecue accident in St. Andrä: 14-year-old seriously injured by flame

Barbecue accident in St. Andrä: 14-year-old seriously injured by flame

On May 16, 2025, a serious accident occurred in the municipality of St. Andrä im Lavanttal during an attempt to light a barbecue campfire. According to police, a 14-year-old and two 13-year-olds were involved. Since the fire could not be lit in the traditional way, one of the 13-year-olds poured the contents of a filled gas can onto the campfire pit. This resulted in a dangerous flash fire that resulted in the boy sustaining serious head injuries that will likely require medical attention. This frightening situation raises questions about barbecue safety, especially among young people.

Barbecue accidents often occur due to carelessness or incorrect handling of fire. According to an analysis by GEV-Versicherung, fire accelerants such as alcohol, gasoline or ethanol are the main causes of such incidents. Over 50% of barbecue accidents result in meter-high flames that can reach temperatures over 1000 °C. Children are particularly at risk because they are often at eye level with the grill. Statistics show that around 500 people in Germany suffer serious injuries from barbecue accidents every year.

Prevention measures and safety

To avoid barbecue accidents, experts recommend some important safety measures. It is advisable to set up the grill on a stable surface protected from the wind and to maintain a distance of at least three meters from combustible materials. Igniting should be done without liquid accelerants, but rather with solid grill lighters or chimney starters. The grill should also never be left unattended and children should keep a safe distance of at least five meters.

It is also important to wear suitable clothing and barbecue gloves and to have extinguishing agents ready so that you can react quickly in an emergency. In the event of a barbecue accident, the injured person should be brought to safety and burning clothing should be extinguished immediately. Minor burns can be cooled under running, lukewarm water, while larger injuries should contact a doctor immediately. In this regard, it is particularly worth noting that 12-13% of barbecue accidents each year result in serious burns, which often require treatment in specialist clinics.

Legal framework and responsibility

Despite the dangers, there is no ban on grilling on balconies, terraces or in your own garden in Germany, as long as the requirements of the rental agreement and the traffic safety obligation are observed. Property owners are responsible for identifying risks and securing sources of danger. This includes, for example, not operating grills under pavilions or awnings, as textiles can catch fire due to flying sparks. In addition, a minimum distance of at least three meters should be maintained from buildings with non-combustible external walls in order to minimize the risk of fire.

The tragedy in St. Andrä is a grim example of the potential dangers of grilling. It reminds us of the importance of safety precautions and that caution should always be exercised when engaging in activities involving fire. The responsibility of adults, especially parents, is crucial in ensuring that children can safely use fire and grills.