Protect yourself against fire risk this summer

In hot, dry weather like we have experienced lately, it’s important to be careful when it comes to the risk of fire. After the huge Saddleworth Moor fire started, the London Fire Brigade posted some advice and warnings on their website to protect people against fire risks and we’ve shared some of this below.

Grass fires

In 2017 the Brigade attended 2,430 grass fires and 902 of them happened in summer months, from June to August. (1)

Grass fires are more likely to happen in hot, dry weather. Two common causes are people not putting cigarettes out properly, as dry grass can catch fire easily, and glass or bottles which magnify the sun and set dry grass on fire.

Things to remember:

• Keep your eye on your barbecue or camp fire and make sure you put it out properly;
• If you come across a grass fire, don’t try to put it out – instead, call the fire Brigade;
• Put out any cigarettes properly;
• Clear away any bottles and glass which could start a fire if magnified by the sun. (2)

Barbecues

When the weather’s nice, many of us enjoy having a barbecue. Barbecues are a fire risk though so here are some tips on doing a barbecue safely:

• Make sure it’s on level ground.
• Light it away from anything that could catch fire, like sheds, fences, trees or tents.
• Don’t leave it unattended.
• When you finish cooking, make sure it has cooled down before you try to move it.
• Never use a barbecue inside or on your balcony. Barbecues on balconies have can easily cause fires and are a breach of your tenancy with us.
• Keep children, pets and any garden games away from the barbecue.
• Keep a bucket filled with water or sand nearby in case of an emergency.

Mirrors and shiny objects

Don’t leave things like mirrors, glass ornaments, dressing table mirrors or any shiny objects in direct sunlight, as they can easily catch fire. (1)

Other things at home

All fire brigades urge people to test their smoke alarms regularly to make sure they’re working. A catchy phrase to help you remember is ‘Test it Tuesday’.

Don’t use plant pots as ash trays because plants can dry out and this increases the risk of fire too.

Make sure that any outside lights and sockets are in good working order.