With the holidays approaching, there is advice on how to stay safe and be fire aware over the summer. Relax and enjoy the outdoors, but remember to act responsibly, stay alert to danger, and take fire safety precautions.

Gorse Fires 

When someone starts fires deliberately, they are putting not only firefighters’ lives at risk, but also the lives of everyone in the local community. Gorse fires can also be caused accidentally by something as simple as:

• throwing a cigarette from a car window
• leaving a glass bottle on the ground
• not putting out a barbeque properly

So be careful and dispose of any litter appropriately.

Avoid holiday complacency

Make sure you, and the people you are with: 

• have taken all the necessary steps to make sure that fire doesn’t become your uninvited guest on your holiday.
• know what to do in the event of an emergency

Having a BBQ 

When having a barbecue:

• remember, alcohol consumption increases the risk of accidents
• the barbecue site should be flat and placed away from fences, trees, shrubs and sheds
• keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby in case of emergencies
• never use petrol or paraffin to start or revive your barbecue – use firelighters or starter fuel on cold coals
• keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area
• never leave a barbecue unattended
• concentrate on what you're doing - it’s easy to get distracted when you have family and friends around
• after cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it
• even when you have finished cooking your barbecue it should remain outside, as it will still give off fumes for some time after use
• make sure ashes are cold before disposal

If you have a gas barbecue:

• make sure your barbeque is in good working order
• make sure the gas tap is turned off before changing the cylinder and always disconnect the cylinder in open air 
• when you have finished cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before you turn off the barbeque controls – this makes sure any gas in the pipework will be exhausted

You should also never bring a barbecue into a caravan or tent.

Article sourced from www.nidirect.gov.uk