Crews called to large number of fires in the open in Cornwall in ONE day
They have issued a warning about barbecues and controlled burns as the heatwave hits
Last updated 10th Aug 2022
Cornwall's fire service has issued a fresh warning as the wildfires risk in most areas reaches Duchy reaches 'Very High'.
Crews from 10 Duchy stations, from Mullion to Launceston, responded to fires in the open on Tuesday alone.
Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service said: "Today we have responded to a large number of small fires in the open throughout the county.
"Appliances from the following stations have responded: Penzance, St Ives, Helston, Mullion, Falmouth, Tolvaddon, Perranporth, Truro, St Austell, and Launceston.
"Members of the public are requested to be vigilant and be safety conscious when having barbecues or controlled burning.
"Always ensure that you have a means of quickly extinguishing anything that gets out of hand and remember to dispose of portable barbecues safely and ensure that they are completely cold and place in a safe position".
You can check the wildfires risk level in your area through the Met Office Fire Severity Index.
Repeat warnings are being put out as the heatwave hits Cornwall, with a Met Office 'Extreme Heat' weather warning in force from tomorrow.
The dangers of not disposing of barbecues responsibly were highlighted recently when Newquay firefighters attended an incident where several disposable barbecues had been discarded whilst still hot.
Since 2020, Cornwall’s firefighters have attended 59 call outs to fire related incidents involving barbecues of all kinds.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue service Station Manager (Prevention) Scott Brown said: "It's natural to want to go outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather with family and friends but if you're using a disposable barbecue, you need to make sure it is cooled down after use and disposed of safely and considerately".
And the message comes after over 40 crew battled a huge wildfire in Truro over the weekend which, although the cause has not been identified, teams said shows how quickly blazes can spread.
They also tweeted advice for the thousands of festival-goers heading to Boardmasters.
Cornwall's fire service is urging people to avoid barbecues in public places and to take extra care when doing so at home.
Scott Brown added: "If you've planned a barbecue and the weather lets you down, don't take the barbecue indoors or into a tent. In recent years, some people have sadly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning as a result".
Top safety tips if you're having a BBQ
• Never leave a barbecue unattended
• When having a barbecue, consider how the smoke will affect others
• If there is a wind blowing, make sure it is blowing away from you when you light the barbecue (just in case it flares up).
• Ensure that you are not wearing any loose clothing that could flap onto the lighted barbecue and catch fire
• Keep the barbecue well away from over hanging obstructions such as tree branches, and keep a safe distance from fences, garden sheds, tents and caravans.
• Do not use any flammable liquid other than recommended barbecue lighting fluid. Never use methylated spirits, paraffin or petrol.
• If you choose to use lighting fluid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and do not spray onto a hot barbecue - it may blow up in your face!
• Preferably use fire lighters. When lighting the barbecue, do so at arm's length (rather like fireworks) and do not put your face over the range.
• Keep children away from the barbecue during and after cooking has finished, as it may still be hot. Ensure matches and lighters are placed out of reach from children.
• Dispose of the charcoal safely after the barbecue has cooled completely. Those using gas powered barbecues should check gas pipelines before use and ensure that the gas cylinder is connected correctly.
Scott continued: “This may seem a long list and most of these things are common sense but unfortunately, sometimes common sense is in short supply.
"One of the biggest dangers is the use of flammable liquids to light the barbecue. There have been occasions where people have poured petrol onto the charcoal to get it going and the reaction has, not surprisingly, been violent and highly dangerous.
"Prepare well in advance and light the charcoal early. Most of all, enjoy yourself safely and considerately".