After a record breaking Spring, forest and heath fires, summer could be a danger…

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to take care with fire after a record-breaking spring heatwave.  The warmest April on record has seen firefighters receive more calls to small fires in rural areas and to deliberate fires started in urban areas.

The continued dry spell means there’s a real risk of small fires getting out of control as the little rain we’ve had soaks in or evaporates rapidly. In the majority of cases these fires are not life threatening but they can cause damage to farmland, public open spaces and wildlife that can take many years to recover.

Councillor Allan Witherick said: “In the flats where I live the weather has been good enough that we’ve worked to build a proper barbecue place so that we can control the flames and dispose of things properly.  But you can’t do that in the wild and so people have to be extra vigilant even with things like cigarette butts.
The ground has been very dry this year and it doesn’t take much to start a fire.  Prevention is better than cure.”

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service ask people to:
-Remember arson is a crime and those responsible will be prosecuted.
-Make sure your cigarettes and other lit materials are properly extinguished and discarded safely as even the smallest flame can start a fire.
-Take extra care when having barbecues. Don’t pour flammable liquid on a barbecue, don’t leave it unattended and make sure that all fire is fully extinguished after use.
-Refrain from lighting fires when visiting the countryside and only barbecue in authorised areas.
-Take your rubbish with you, especially glass bottles, which can magnify the sun’s rays and start a fire as well as hurt people and animals.

For more information on fire safety, please visit Hertsdirect.org/fire or call 0300 123 4046.

Please dial 999 to report a fire.

If you have any information on or know someone who has committed an arson you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Advice on what homeowners and businesses can do to prevent arson can be found at www.hertsdirect.org/fire or www.herts.police.uk.