Fire Safety

Following the recent hot weather and the forecast of more hot weather throughout the summer we thought it would be worthwhile posting an extract of a recent article published in Wokingham Today by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Manager Graeme Hartley:

“Avoid having open fires in the countryside – only use barbeques in safe, designated areas and never leave them unattended. Any BBQ should have a bucket of water or sand nearby and not lit near trees. Do not dispose of any charcoal until fully cooled down. (Please note there are no designated BBQ areas within Fox Hill woods).

Never leave bottles or glass lying around – sunlight shining through can start a fire.

Always extinguish any cigarettes properly, never throw a lit one away.

Do not use candles, use a torch instead.

Berkshire RBFRS have advised in the past that fires should not be started at all within the woods at Fox Hill, during the last hot weather evidence of at least two separate fires being lit was found the following day.

If you encounter a wildfire, do not attempt to extinguish it. Get to a safe place immediately and call 999. Make sure you give as accurate a description of where you are as possible. Using the application What3Words.com is very useful for giving a precise location.

At this time of year there is a lot of easily combustible plant and tree growth, please be careful and vigilant.

For more advice on how to stay safe in the countryside, visit rbfrs.co.uk/yoursafety.“

Tony Delliston

Friends of Fox Hill