Parents have been urged to talk to their children about the ‘risks of starting outdoor fires’ and sun-lovers asked not to bring disposable BBQs to the park ahead of the new heatwave
Firefighters have issued an urgent plea as Britain prepares for its fourth heatwave of the summer.
A warm weekend is forecast before temperatures rocket into the mid-30s next week in parts of the UK, raising the prospect of another prolonged spell of hot weather amid a record-breaking dry summer. Ahead of the new heatwave, fire brigade chiefs in the capital are urging parents to inform their children of the “risks of starting an outdoor fire” after revealing they had responded to nearly 80 incidents believed to have been started deliberately so far this summer.
Dozens of homes were evacuated when a huge blaze broke out in a nature reserve in Dagenham, East London on July 14, while another major incident was declared yesterday in the Erith area, where firefighters found around two hectares of grassland alight. Investigators believe both fires were started deliberately.
It comes after a heatwave forecast map revealed the exact date a 39C heat plume is expected to hit the UK.
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The majority of wildfires tackled by firefighters in the capital are found to be the result of human behaviour, either deliberate or accidental, and can be “easily avoided by the public behaving responsibly”, according to London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall.
He said: “While some wildfires can occur naturally, particularly during spells of extreme dryness and heat, the majority of these fires can be easily avoided by the public behaving responsibly.
“What might seem like harmless fun has the potential to have devastating consequences especially in London when so many of our green spaces lie close to properties. There is also the impact on wildlife and the ability for others to enjoy their local green spaces.
“These types of incidents can also have a impact on our resources and wildfires can be challenging for firefighters to deal with on the ground, especially if it is hot.
“As we head into the fourth week of the school holidays, we’re urging parents to inform their children on the risks of starting an outdoor fire, as well as encouraging them not to act recklessly or irresponsibly.”
He also urged members of the public not to bring disposable BBQs to green spaces, as they retain heat for several hours after use, and are now banned from many parks. Smokers have been urged to dispose of cigarettes properly, and park users should take rubbish home if there are no bins are available.
Fire safety advice should also be followed if staying at home, and Mr Goodall continued: “Make sure your BBQ is positioned away from flammable items like fencing, sheds, decking or trees and please don’t have any type of BBQ on your balcony.
“We’re also strongly advising people to avoid burning any waste in this type of weather and to not have bonfires, particularly in their gardens.”
Met Office forecasters say temperatures are expected to exceed 30C in places across parts of central, southern and eastern England on Monday and Tuesday, with warmer-than-average conditions also expected across most of the UK.