The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are reminding Islanders about keeping the countryside and residents safe with an easy-to-read safety checklist, as temperatures continue to soar with a significant lack of rain in recent weeks.
Fires in the countryside can get out of hand very quickly, cause extensive damage and put lives at risk. They can also last for several days once a fire takes hold using up valuable Fire Service resources which could be needed elsewhere.
The reminder comes as a heatwave warning is issued by the Met Office with the hottest day of the year set to hit this week.
Follow a few simple precautions to help to prevent countryside fires:
• Avoid using open fires in the countryside
• Do not leave bottles or glass in woodlands
• Keep young children and ball games away from barbecues
• Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly
• Only use barbecues in suitable and safe areas and never leave them unattended
• Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows – they can ruin whole fields of crops
• Ensure that your barbecue is fully extinguished and cold before disposing of the contents
• Sunlight shining through glass can start large fires – take glass bottles/jars home or put them in a waste or recycling bin
An easy-to-read checklist has been produced by IWFRS.
