Fire service shares summer safety advice as temperatures rise

With high temperatures across the county this week, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is reminding communities of the dangers heat can bring, and how you can keep yourself and others safe.

Please check on vulnerable friends and neighbours.

At home in the garden, keep BBQs well away from hedges, trees, fences and buildings.

When you are finished, please make sure the coals are completely cool, before putting them in the bin.

With the risk of wildfire increasing with dry land, if you are visiting the moorland and rural areas please take rubbish home, especially glass bottles, and dispose of smoking materials safely; a picnic is a safer option than a BBQ.

In the countryside, please park carefully so emergency vehicles can get through, if needed.

If you see a fire, call 999; please don’t presume someone else will call us. Use what3words to help find your location.

If you’re visiting open water, please pay attention to warning signs and flags.

Even on a hot day, the water will still be cold. Enter the water slowly to give your body time to adjust, rather than jumping straight in.

Be aware of hidden risks such as strong currents and objects under the water.

If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 999 and ask for the fire service inland or the Coastguard at the coast. Look for something you can throw to them and encourage them to float on their back if they can.

Key information 

Water safety:

• Water outdoors is often much colder than it looks, and entering it suddenly can trigger cold water shock, putting even strong swimmers in trouble.
• Dangers aren’t always easy to spot. Be aware of your surroundings, look out for warning signs and safety equipment, and think twice before getting too close to the edge.
• If you head to the coast choose a lifeguarded beach if swimming in the sea.
• Incidents around water can happen in seconds, often silently and without warning.
• If you see someone in trouble in the water: stay out of the water; call 999 and ask for the fire service (inland) or coastguard (coastal); encourage them to float on their back; use an object to reach or throw help from a safe distance.

Wildfire:

• In dry conditions there’s an increased risk of grass or wildfires.
• No BBQs on grass or moorland.
• Don’t drop cigarettes.
• Take litter home.
• One mistake can cause huge damage.
• If you see a fire, call 999, please don’t presume someone else will call us.
• Use what3words to help find your location.
• Park responsibly and make sure a fire engine or ambulance can pass.

BBQing at home:

• Ensure all ashes are cooled fully before disposal in a suitable place (consider emptying into soil rather than a plastic wheelie bin).
• Store gas canisters and charcoal in a cool, shaded area away from direct sunlight.
• Never use petrol or other fuels to start fires.
• Avoid lighting garden fires in dry or windy conditions.
• Once lit, NEVER leave a fire unattended.
• Make sure your BBQ, fire pit or bonfire is a safe distance away from buildings, sheds, fences and hedges.
• Check local guidance before lighting a fire.
• Keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe close by and remember…if any fire becomes out of control, call 999, retreat to a safe space and do not try to tackle it yourself – leave that to the fire service.