Plea to stay safe as temperatures increase across Staffordshire

We’re urging people to stay safe and limit the risks of outdoor fires as temperatures continue to rise across Staffordshire.

Temperatures are expected to reach up to 30 degrees this week, and this dry weather significantly increases the risk of fires.

Accidental outdoor fires are preventable if you remember this advice:

• Make sure cigarettes are put our properly and don’t throw cigarettes out of car windows
• Take your rubbish home and don’t leave glass bottles lying on the ground
• Avoid having open fires in the countryside, including BBQs
• If you are having a BBQ at home, follow our specific advice here: BBQ safety.

Head of Prevent, Partnerships and Protect, Ian Read, said: “This weather significantly increases the risk of accidental grass fires but there are several steps we can take to minimise this risk.

“However, we have recently seen an increase in deliberate grass fires too.

“On Sunday (15 June), fire crews were sent to a deliberately started grass fire on parkland off Lysander Road, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent.

“Whilst this was not a big fire and was quickly extinguished by our firefighters, this demand uses up resources that would otherwise be available for more serious incidents.

“We would urge parents to educate their children on the dangers of starting grass fires as this dry weather would cause them to spread quickly and can have a devastating impact on the environment.”

For more grass fire prevention tips, visit Grass fire prevention.