[25 June 2007]

Fire Risk During Dry Weather.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service are offering some safety tips in order to try and reduce the number of calls to fires in the countryside this summer. During a spell of dry, hot weather there is a danger of fires breaking out involving crops, grass, hedgerows and the open countryside.

In the majority of cases these fires are not life threatening but do cause damage to farmland, public open spaces and wildlife. Many of these fires result from carelessness and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service would ask all residents of East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove along with visitors to the area to consider the following tips which should help reduce the level of calls:

• Never throw cigarette ends out of the windows of vehicles or trains.
• Clear up and take your rubbish home after a picnic in the countryside.
• Don´t be tempted to light a fire in the countryside and only barbecue in authorised areas.
• Don´t leave glass bottles - not only can they hurt people and animals; they can magnify the sun´s rays and start a fire.

Steve Wright, Station Manager, Community Safety outlined; “We cannot of course prevent those who are intent on starting fires. We can only point out that arson is regarded as an extremely serious offence and will receive the very highest attention. Fires in open spaces and the countryside are easily preventable. They can cause damage to the countryside and environment that takes years to recover. Help us to reduce these calls and protect our natural heritage.”

[Allison Gilson]