With the fifth heatwave of the summer coming in this week, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is again reminding people how to help reduce the risk of wildfire.
The Service dealt with 277 grassland, woodland and crop fires during July, and crews have also assisted with wildfires in Suffolk and Hampshire, most recently this week in the New Forest off the A31.
Firefighters were called to scrubland in Salisbury yesterday afternoon on London Road after a local resident spotted smoke at the land where the ASDA supermarket is due to be built.
That makes last month the second busiest for these types of incidents in the last five years – only August 2022 was busier, with 289.
Fires during such dry spells spread quickly and can be extremely difficult to extinguish. They also have a lasting impact on the environment and wildlife, which can take decades to recover.
Area Manager Marc House said: “The figures are reflective of how challenging this summer has been, but we are very grateful to the vast majority of people who have followed our advice and avoided activity that could lead to a fire starting. With no sign of rain in the coming days, and another heatwave due, we all need to remain cautious to reduce the risk of fire.”
DWFRS has these safety tips:
- Avoid using barbecues, campfires or camping stoves (especially on heathland or in open spaces). If you do, douse any coals/fire pits with water and don’t dispose of the remnants until you’re sure they’re cold.
- Extinguish smoking materials properly, and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
- If you see a fire in the countryside, get to a safe place and call 999 to report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Use What3Words to provide an accurate location and give as much detail as possible.
- Don’t have a bonfire at home during these high-risk conditions.
- If you’re at the beach, don’t set off flares, have campfires, or light barbecues as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on the cliffs catching fire.
- Fireworks and sky lanterns can easily cause fires in these very dry conditions, so please don’t use them.
If you see any suspicious fire-setting behaviour in progress, call 999 and ask for the Police. You can also report anything anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Further information relating to outdoor safety can be found on our website www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/safety-outdoors
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