With the summer holidays finally here, Cleveland Fire Brigade is urging residents to stay safe as people spend more time outdoors enjoying the warmer weather.
The warning coincides with the Brigade’s annual summer campaign which was launched today (24th July) and will run until 8th September.
One of the key focuses of the campaign is to help prevent deliberate fires which typically rise throughout Cleveland during the summer months.
Robin Turnbull, Area Manager for Prevention, Protection and Engagement at Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “During our last summer campaign our figures show that crews attended a staggering 862 deliberately set fires mainly caused by rubbish, grassland, and vehicles. Shockingly, these types of incidents account for almost 85% of ALL our fire calls and disappointingly ranks us highest in the country.
When we dispatch our resources to these fires it ties up our crews and delays them from attending incidents where people’s lives may be in danger. What people may not realise is that some of our fire stations only have one or two fire engines and we can’t be in two places at once.
We are asking people to think twice before they light that match and think about the potential consequences of deliberate fires and the reality that one day it might be your family who desperately needs our help.
We are encouraging anyone who has any information on who’s setting deliberate fires to report it through FireStoppers, which is 100% anonymous. Always.”
The safety advice from the Brigade doesn’t end there, the campaign also highlights water safety, safe camping and BBQ safety. With the number of people having BBQs increasing during the summer months, so do the fire risks.
If you’re having family and friends over for a BBQ this summer, please be safe and sensible. Barbeques should never be placed close to fences or sheds as fires can quickly get out of control and cause lots of damage as well as putting you or others in danger.
Barbeques should be completely cooled down before they are moved, and any empty ash should be placed in a metal container or on to soil not into the bin as warm ash melts plastic.
Keep posted as over the next few weeks we will be sharing further outdoor safety advice so you and your family can enjoy the summer months safely.
In the meantime, please click here for more outdoor safety advice.
