Fire safety outdoors

As temperatures continue to rise, many people will be camping, caravanning, barbecuing and enjoying the outdoors.

But with hot, dry weather the risk of wildfires increases across Dorset’s beaches, parks, heathlands and countryside.

With a red wildfire warning in place this weekend, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging local people to take extra care over the next few days.

Follow these fire safety top tips to ensure spending time outdoors is fun and safe:

  • Don’t have barbecues or campfires on heath or in open spaces; the risk of a fire starting is too great. Barbecues and campfires are actually banned in many country parks, campsites and open spaces, so make sure you check what is and isn’t allowed where you are, and follow the rules.
  • Extinguish cigarettes properly, and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
  • Please don’t have a bonfire at home during these high-risk conditions. If it is absolutely necessary, make sure you have a garden hose to hand in case it starts to get out of control, and never use petrol or another accelerant to get it started.
  • Barbecue coals and fire pits stay hot for hours, so douse them with water and don’t dispose of the remnants until you can be absolutely sure they are cold.
  • If you see a fire in the countryside, get to a safe place and call 999 to report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Please provide as much detail as possible about location and if necessary, use the What3Words app and wait for help to arrive.
By being careful with fire, litter and smoking, we can all help protect Dorset’s beautiful outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.