Cleveland Fire Brigade is urging residents to take extra care over the half-term holidays to clampdown on deliberate and accidental fires in outdoor spaces.
This May half-term we want you and your family to have as much fun as possible while enjoying the great outdoors but to do so safely.
We are crossing our fingers that the sun will make an appearance, but regardless know that many of you will make the most of the time off. We would like to remind our communities that even the smallest fire can get out of hand, quickly. Most fires in the open are avoidable so the Brigade is asking you to help reduce your risk of fire and enjoy the holidays safely.
Last May half-term, crews were called out to 79 deliberate secondary fires which included rubbish fires, wheelie bins, general refuse and grassland being the top ‘fuel’. Therefore, we are asking everyone to take care if planning a barbeque, clear-up after picnics in green spaces and store your wheelie bin and rubbish away to make it difficult for the mindless minority who start fires.
Craig Strike, Head of Prevention and Engagement at Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “Deliberate secondary fires accounted for 82% of all fire incidents during the May half-term last year so we want to encourage everyone in Teesside to do their bit to help prevent as many deliberate fires as possible.”
Here are some of our top tips to help prevent fires if you have a barbeque:
- Make sure your barbeque is well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste
- Barbeques should be completely cooled down before they are moved
- Empty ash must be placed in a metal container or on to soil, NEVER in the bin as warm ash melts plastic
- Keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area
- Have a bucket of water, sand or garden hose nearby for emergencies
- Never leave the BBQ unattended
- BBQs can stay hot for hours, so be really careful moving them. They also give off carbon monoxide fumes for several hours after they go out, so don’t bring them indoors, or into a tent, with you
Did you know? Sunlight shining through glass can start large fires – please take any glass bottles or jars home and either put them in a waste or recycling bin (whichever is applicable).
Alternatively, if a picnic is more your style here are some DO’s and DON’TS:
- Take your rubbish home or place it in a suitable public bin
- If you see a fire in the countryside, call the emergency services, unless it is clearly under control and attended – better safe than sorry!
- Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows – they can ruin whole fields of crops, forest, or areas of natural beauty.
- Don’t run out of phone battery, so you always have a way of contacting the emergency services or use apps like What3Words so the crew can find out where you are
These handy hints will hopefully prevent as many deliberate fires as possible and help us all have a great half-term.
If you have any information on who is behind deliberate fires in your area please get in touch via FireStoppers which is 100% anonymous. Alternatively, you can call them on 0800 169 5558.
