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Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Warm Weather Advice

Barbecues
  • Never leave a lit barbecue unattended.
  • Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues.
  • Make sure your barbecue is well away from sheds, fences, trees etc.
  • Keep children and pets away from the cooking area. 
  • Use only approved lighter fuels – never petrol or paraffin – and use only on cold coals.
  • Keep a bucket of water, sand, or a garden hose nearby, for emergencies.
  • Don’t cook if you’ve been drinking or taking medication.
  • After cooking, make sure the barbecue is fully extinguished and cold before disposing of the contents.
  • Don’t empty hot ashes into dustbins or wheelie bins - they can melt the plastic and start a fire! 

Countryside

  • Always extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly.
  • Never throw lit cigarette ends out of car windows – they can destroy whole fields of crops.
  • Avoid open fires in the countryside. Only use barbecues in safe, designated areas and never leave them unattended.
  • Don’t leave bottles or glass lying around - sunlight shining through glass can start a fire.
  • If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately by calling 999.

Camping and Caravanning

  • Always site tents and caravans at least six metres apart and away from parked cars.
  • Don’t smoke or use candles inside tents.
  • Never bring any type of barbecue (i.e. disposable or reusable) into your tent or caravan. Even when the flames aren’t visible, they can still give off carbon monoxide (CO) fumes for some time, which can be deadly.
  • Fit and maintain a smoke alarm and a CO alarm in your caravan.
  • Keep flammable liquids (e.g. petrol and gas cylinders) outside in a secure location and away from children. 

Festivals

  • Pay particular attention to the fire safety guidance provided by the festival organiser.
  • If in any doubt, ask the on-site staff.
There are also simple steps that you can follow if you encounter someone who has fallen into deep water: 
  • Call 999 straight away and ask to speak to the fire service and ambulance. 
  • The emergency services will need to know where you are. If you do not know the specific location look for landmarks or signs – for example, bridges will often have numbers on them which can identify the location.
  • Never enter the water to try and save someone, even if you are a strong swimmer. 
  • Shout to the person in the water ‘swim to me’. The water can be disorientating and this can give them a focus.
  • Depending on where you are there might be lifebelts or throw bags – use them. If they are attached to rope, make sure you have secured or are holding the end of the rope so you can pull them in.