Campaign highlights risk of grass fires

A campaign to highlight the grass fire risk posed during warm summer months has been started by firefighters in Northamptonshire.

Last year Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) attended 378 fires affecting grassland, woodland and crops in areas ranging from people’s gardens to roadside vegetation and farmland.

NFRS begun its Summer Fire Safety Campaign to highlight the fire risks posed during hot, dry weather and promote the safety steps people can take to prevent blazes breaking out.

Steven Swan, NFRS risk intelligence officer, said: “The British weather can be very hard to predict and periods of heavy rain can very easily be followed by prolonged periods of hot, dry weather.
“What so many people do not recognise is the difference a change in weather makes to the conditions in the environment around them. Grass and shrubbery can become tinder dry, which means fire can take hold and spread more easily.

“We would ask people to please respect their environment and think twice about where and how they use barbecues or put out cigarettes.”

Last summer, Northamptonshire experienced long stretches of hot, dry weather which made grass, trees and shrubbery across the county extremely dry. Although there have been recent periods of heavy rain in Northamptonshire, a hot spell of weather has been predicted and NFRS are keen to encourage people to think about fire prevention in the coming summer months.

In the last 10 years, NFRS attended 3676 fires in farmland, gardens, woodland and cropland.

District Liaison Officer Tina Collett said: “We would like to use this opportunity to remind people about how they can help prevent potentially serious fires from breaking out in Northamptonshire’s areas of countryside, parks and in their own gardens.
“If going out and about to have a barbecue, make sure you only use safe, designated areas and, when disposing of a barbecue, make sure it is cold and thoroughly extinguished. Barbecues can remain hot for a surprising amount of time.
“We want people to enjoy their summer, but also to take steps to ensure they are keeping themselves and the countryside safe.”

Summer safety prevention messages:

Only have barbecues in designated areas and avoid setting any open fires in the countryside.
    Always stay with a barbecue and do not leave it unattended. Never use accelerants such as petrol or paraffin on or near barbecues or fires.
  

Whether at home or elsewhere, make sure barbecues are kept away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste.
  

Avoid setting fire to garden waste.
  

Barbecues can remain hot for a very long time. Ensure they are cold and have been extinguished properly before disposal.

Keeping a bucket of water handy, or having a garden hose nearby is a useful precaution.
   

Do not empty ashes into dustbins or wheelie bins. If they’re hot, they can melt plastic and start a fire.
   

In hot, sunny conditions, glass items like bottles can start fires if left in the sun. If having a picnic, it’s best to take bottles and jars home and recycle them properly.

Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly. Never throw cigarettes out of car windows