Countryside fire safety

Fire destroys thousands of acres of countryside, open space and wildlife habitat every year. Sadly, many of these fires are started deliberately but, by following a few simple precautions, many others can be prevented:

• dispose of smoking materials responsibly and make sure they’re completely out. Never throw them to the ground or out of vehicle windows
• ideally, never have an open fire in the countryside
• don’t leave camp fires or barbecues unattended, and extinguish them properly after use
• clear away bottles, glasses and any broken glass to prevent them magnifying the sun’s rays and starting a fire
• Flames aren’t games – explain to children the personal and environmental dangers of playing with fire
• if fire breaks out, call 999 immediately. Be clear about your location, mention any landmarks – perhaps a church or pub – and, if phoning from a phone box, stay nearby so you can direct the fire engines to the scene
• if you can do so safely, prepare for the arrival of firefighters at a pre-arranged meeting point by unlocking gates, etc
• don’t attempt to fight the fire yourself unless it is very small and can be put out with a bucket of water – grass and crop fires can travel very quickly.