Fire warning issued as temperatures hot-up
Wiltshire could see temperatures reach 29 Celsius again this week
With no end in sight to the recent dry weather, and temperatures set to rise again, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to take extra care when enjoying the outdoors.
Just last week, 60 firefighters were sent to tackle a fire which broke out at Upton Heath in Dorset covering over two hectares of land.
No injuries have been reported, but people were asked to avoid the area.
Group Manager Dave Waters said: “The lack of rain means the ground is really dry, and any fire will spread even more quickly than usual as a result."
The risk is as great in gardens as it is on heathland, according to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, who have recommend "taking extra care".
The following safety tips are recommended:
- Avoid having a bonfire at home while the conditions are so dry. If it’s absolutely necessary, make sure you have a garden hose to hand in case it starts to get out of control; site it well away from fencing, trees and property; never use petrol or another accelerant to get it started; and don’t leave it unattended.
- Barbecue coals and fire pits stay hot for hours, so douse them with water and don’t dispose of the remnants until you can be absolutely sure they are cold.
- Avoid barbecues or campfires on heath or in open spaces; bring a picnic instead. The risk of a fire starting is too great. Barbecues and campfires are actually banned in many country parks, campsites and open spaces, so make sure you check what is and isn’t allowed where you are, and follow the rules.
- Extinguish cigarettes 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. Please provide as much detail as possible about location – the What3Words or other location apps can help – and wait for help to arrive.
- What3Words is a digital addressing system which divides the world up into three-by- three-metre squares to pinpoint someone's location.
- The app gives each square a unique three-word address, and is used by 100 UK emergency services.
- Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Group Manager Dave Waters explains why it's recommended that people download the app:
- "It's especially important when fires or incidents are on heathland, where there are no addresses, so the What3Words gives us almost a pin-point accuracy within a very small radius, to get right to the incident."
More information on staying safe outdoors can be found on the DWFR website.