Mums, dads and carers are urged to speak to their children about fire safety this Summer after youths purposefully set fire to a stack of pallets in amongst woodland in Oakfield, Ryde last night (Tuesday).
One appliance from nearby Ryde Fire Station was mobilised to a wooded area alongside the Island Line train track at 21:25, where a number of pallets were discovered to be well alight with the fire starting to spread to a tree.
Thankfully, on this occasion, the fire was quickly discovered – despite its remote location – thanks to a good Samaritan spotting the smoke rising and summoning help.
Firefighters used spades and several buckets of water to spread out and extinguish the 2mx2m fire and used a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots in the charred tree.
This latest incident comes just 2 weeks since youths set fire to a number of tyres about 1/2 mile further down the footpath, which firefighters warned could have been a lot more serious if the weather was drier.
In England, on average 27,000 fires are started on grass, heathland and moorland every year. 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, using up valuable Fire Service resources which could be needed elsewhere.
Countryside Fire Safety:
• Avoid open fires in the countryside. Always have them in safe, designated areas
• Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows – they could start a fire and ruin surrounding countryside.
• Don’t leave bottles or glass in woodlands. Sunlight shining through glass can start a fire. Take them home or put them in a waste or recycling bin
• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately
• Don’t attempt to tackle fires that can’t be put out with a bucket of water – leave the area as soon as possible
• When having a BBQ, keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies
