During hot, dry spells Hampshire’s Fire & Rescue Service is worried ...
During hot, dry spells Hampshire’s Fire & Rescue Service is worried about wildfires which can spread quickly to village homes and gardens.
With fields being tinder dry it is feared that any spark could create a Buriton version of fires elsewhere in the country.
There have already been serious fires elsewhere in Hampshire this summer as well as in Sussex, Somerset, Devon, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Durham and North Wales.
Winds can easily spread embers to homes and gardens some distance from any blaze. So, the risk of fires can affect everyone.
As well as refraining from having bonfires, there are other tips from the authorities:
- opt for a picnic rather than a barbecue, even at home. Disposable barbecues, or any kind of barbecue, should never be used in the countryside or fields.
- make sure cigarettes are out and dispose of them properly: a single smouldering cigarette butt can reach temperatures of 700C and quickly start a wildfire.
- take litter home – including all bottles and glass. Even small pieces of broken glass can magnify the heat from the sun and cause fires.
At the first sign of smoke, or if you see a fire, please call 999 immediately and retreat to a safe distance.
With relatively poor water supply systems in parts of the parish it could be very difficult to put out any fires were they to start …
Many farm fires happen between spring and late summer due to carelessness by passers-by.
Please do anything that you can to help avoid fires.
