The operation of a gas burner, such as a Bunsen burner, is controlled by a remote control device including a diaphragm drive which responds to a fluid under pressure for operating the actuator of the burner whereby the gas supply is switched on or off. The diaphragm seals off a pressure chamber from a fuel gas supply chamber and is deformable by the pressure in the pressure chamber. Such deformation is transmitted to the burner actuator.