As the warm weather entices people to venture into the great outdoors, it is important to be mindful of the potential risks and take necessary precautions to protect yourself, loved ones and the environment. A significant hazard during this time of year is the threat of grassland fires starting and spreading across the open and reaching homes and businesses.
Open heathland, grassland and wooded areas can all be at risk of fire as grass and foliage can quickly dry out between rain showers. These fires spread quickly and often start accidentally by the magnifying effect of glass bottles or cans littering the environment, as well as activities such as careless cigarette disposal and starting campfires and barbecues in the countryside.
How you can prevent a fire starting:
- Don’t discard cigarettes or matches
- Don’t start campfires
- Don’t light BBQs in the countryside
- Take your litter home - leave no trace of your visit
- Avoid burning garden rubbish during hot weather, take them to the tip
- Follow the Countryside Code, enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory!
- Report deliberate fires in your area, tell FireStoppers what you know
What to do if you discover a fire
- Move to a safe place and call the fire service on 999 immediately, provide as much detail as you can – size of fire, location and terrain
- Don’t attempt to tackle the fire
- If you haven’t already, get out of the area as soon as possible – these fires can spread fast