With the warmer weather arriving, you may start to spend more time outside – either in the garden or in the countryside. The warmer weather does bring with it unique risks. Follow our top tips for outdoor fire safety to keep you and your family safe this summer.

Barbecue safety

• Enjoy yourself, but don’t drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the barbecue or any cooking.
• Make sure your barbecue is well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste.
• Never leave a barbecue or any cooking unattended.
• Never use a barbecue indoors.
• Keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies.
• Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues.
• Never use petrol or paraffin to start or revive your barbecue; use only recognised lighters or starter fuels on coal.
• Empty ashes onto bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins. If they’re hot, they can melt the plastic and start a fire.

Camping safety

When you are going camping, follow these basic precautions to reduce the risk of fire starting and spreading:

• Never use candles in or near a tent – torches are safer.
• Don’t smoke inside a tent.
• Place your cooking area well away from the tent.
• Before you set off, get the contact details of the local fire and rescue service.
• Set up tents at least six metres apart and away from parked cars.
• Make sure you know what the fire arrangements on the camp site are and where the nearest telephone is.
• Keep your cooking area clear of items that catch fire easily (‘flammable’ items), including long, dry grass.
• Put cooking appliances in a place where they can’t easily be knocked over.
• Keep matches, lighters, flammable liquids and gas cylinders out of the reach of children.
• Have an escape plan and be prepared to cut your way out of your tent if there is a fire.

Gas cannisters

• Always store in the upright position.
• Ensure they are stored away from sources of heat and ignition.
• Make sure gas bottles are stored outside, away from the building entry/exit points.

Caravan safety

Having working smoke alarms when you’re staying in a caravan is just as important as having them in your home.

• Ensure caravans and tents are at least 6 metres apart and away from parked cars.
• Make sure you know what the fire arrangements on the camp site are and where the nearest telephone is.

Inside the caravan:

• If you smoke, use metal ashtrays – and never smoke in bed.
• Don’t leave children alone inside.
• Don’t block air vents – if any leaking gas builds up you may fall unconscious and be unable to escape.
• Turn off all appliances before you leave the caravan or go to bed.
• Never use a cooker or heater whilst your caravan is moving.

If there’s a fire in your caravan:

• Get everyone out straight away.
• Call the fire and rescue service and give your location with a map reference, if possible, or provide a nearby landmark, like a farm.

How to reduce the risk of wildfires

Dry ground in the summer means there’s an added risk of a fire starting, but you should take care at all times of the year. Follow these tips to reduce the chance of a wildfire in the countryside:

• Extinguish cigarettes properly and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground – take your litter home.
• Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows.
• Avoid using open fires in the countryside.
• Don’t leave bottles or glass in woodland – sunlight shining through glass can start fires (take them home and recycle them).
• Only use barbecues in a suitable and safe area and never leave them unattended.
• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it to the fire and rescue service immediately.
• Don’t attempt to tackle fires that can’t be put out with a bucket of water – leave the area as quickly as possible.