Wildfires

We can all take actions to reduce the risk of wildfires:

Dispose of cigarettes and other burning items responsibly

Never drop cigarettes or any burning item onto dry ground, and never throw them from car windows.

Make sure they are fully extinguished before putting them into a general waste bin.

Get help to quit smoking from the NHS.

Take glass and rubbish with you

Never leave glass products behind when enjoying time outside - direct sunlight through glass can cause fires.

Put any rubbish in the bin, or take it with you to bin it at home.

Barbecue and bonfire safety

Avoid using barbecues or lighting bonfires in the garden during a heatwave. Follow local weather reports, especially during extreme weather. The Met Office provides weather warnings for the UK up to seven days in advance.

Never use barbecues in fields, open grassland, parks, or forests - especially in a period of hot, dry weather. Single-use barbecues are a significant fire risk and cannot be recycled.

Drive and park carefully

Don't drive or park on dry grass or fields - your vehicle's exhaust can reach more than 1000 degrees.

Maintain the outside of your property

• Keep your driveway, paths, gardens, patio, and decking free from rubbish and debris - reducing the amount of combustible material that could fuel a fire.
• Keep trees on your property trimmed back and away from the house. Don't allow branches to overhang into gutters or towards the roof.

Decking and fences

• If you have decking, try not to use the area underneath for storage. Remove any combustible materials and debris regularly. Where possible, keep storage of furniture to a minimum.
• Check your fences and make sure there are no gaps between overlapping panels, or between you and your neighbour's fence. Debris, like dry leaves and embers could build up in these gaps fuelling a fire.
• If you have fencing or gates made or wood, plastic, or other combustible materials, consider replacing these with metal.

If you find a wildfire:

• Stay calm
• Find a safe place away from the fire, plants, and smoke
• Call 999 to report the fire - don't assume someone else has already reported the fire
• Tell the emergency services your location. You can use a location app like What3Words to help if you're not sure

If you are driving, close all windows and vents. If you are at home, keep windows and doors closed but do not lock them.