With temperatures rising and a local hosepipe ban in place, the Island’s countryside, parks and gardens are extremely dry which significantly increases the risk of fire. With this in mind, the Isle of Wight Council has placed a temporary ban on the use of the barbeque facility at Fort Victoria.
The ban is to minimise the risk of accidental fires at the West Wight beauty spot, near Yarmouth.
The local authority say that disposable barbeques should also not be used in parks or on beaches across the Isle of Wight. Disposable barbecues are considered a particularly high-risk item as they are often placed directly onto flammable dry grass or sometimes disposed of unsafely. This can also cause fires in bins or refuse collection vehicles.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for environment, says:
“Maintaining the health and welfare of Islanders and visitors is vital during this extended period of hot and dry weather.
“Please avoid using disposable barbecues or lighting bonfires while the ground is so dry! We’ve seen a lot of fires in the last couple of weeks that could have been avoided, that have put pressure on our local fire services and caused significant damage to local areas.”
Jeff Walls, Group Manager for the Isle of Wight for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, says:
“Lots of us are currently enjoying the warmer weather, however these conditions increase the risk of wildfires across the Isle of Wight.
“Our crews have already been busy this summer tackling fires involving large parts of our countryside, fires which could easily be avoided.
“Barbecues, campfires and inappropriately discarded rubbish can spark wildfires that spread rapidly, causing huge amounts of damage, so we all need to do our bit and protect our wildlife.”
There are a number of ways that those spending time in the countryside can help reduce the risk of a wildfire:
- Pack a picnic instead of using a disposable barbecue
- Clear away bottles, glasses and any broken glass to avoid them magnifying the sun and starting a fire
- Do not discard cigarettes in the countryside; dispose of smoking materials properly and make sure they are completely extinguished
Anyone coming across a fire in the countryside should dial 999 and give an exact location, if possible by using What3Words.
If using barbecues at home, ensure coals and ash are completely cold before being disposed of to avoid any risk of bin or refuse collection vehicle fires.
Why only at Fort Victoria? This should be nationwide, and supermarkets etc. should stop selling them.
It says ‘across the island’ but totally agree with you, although there are a mindless, selfish few that will still use them!
Should be in place all year round in my opinion, I see the charred remains of these barbecues absolutely everywhere.
Should this not be island wide?
disposable ones should be banned, full stop !!
What about a fire work ban
If you wear glasses that make your eyes look big don’t leave them lying around on dry grass. They could start a fire or get trodden on.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL!!!!!
But seriously, these things should be banned not just on the island, nationwide.
I expect this will be ignored just like the no dogs on the beach rules.
I accept that, especially, disposable BBQ’s can be a hazard, especially with the lack of intelligence of a lot of people who use them, but under what legal status is this ‘ban’ being introduced.
If it is a local Bye-Law, surely it must go through due process, or is this yet more ‘you will do what we say’ governing by non-entities whilst they carry on partying and barbecuing to their hearts content like our (nearly late) Prime Minister did when he told everyone else to stay and home and not party while he, and his cronies, boogied the night away in total disregard of their own so-called rules!?
Ban them in the whole island??? The ground is so dry, it’s the sensible thing to do. Our poor emergency services don’t need any extra work??
Disposable BBQ’s should be banned immediately we hit a heat wave, more so in the future when even hotter spells are being predicted to what we are having now. Well known fact that most food gets burnt very high percentage of carcinogenic content when this happens.
Read the article correctly – the use of “barbecue facility” at fort Victoria is banned. Disposable barbecues “should not” (not “must not” or” cannot” or “are banned”) be used elsewhere. So not a ban then, as no legal footing to do that- just a knee jerk reaction here.
Carry on.
It amazes me that people need to be told this.
Isn’t it common sense,or are there more really thick people about.
Believe it, there are the ” Lets have a barbecue ” idiots who also get tanked up and that is when the trouble starts, both islanders and visitors are guilty..
No, not to some and yes, lots of really thick, selfish people about nowadays.
Ban these bloody things completely. Some people are too stupid to know how to make them safe so I’m afraid everyone must forfit a disposable BBQ.
Take a nice picnic instead and keep your BBQ for home. (Remember to pick up all your rubbish and take it home. No littering)!!!
There will always be people around who ignore advice moreover the “. Couldn’t care less” selfish and low mentality types. Same as these ill bred people who leave litter around. I agree totally with these bans and there should be warning everywhere including heavy fines! It’s a selfish, uncaring world sadly.
We need to respect those who work so hard to put the fires out and the bin men too, bless them!