Dorset & Wiltshire Fire is relaunching its fire prevention campaign

It follows a large fire in Verwood last week

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to be safe this summer as they relaunch their fire prevention campaign.

In 2023, the service attended 510 open fires, with a peak of over 900 in 2022.

Residents and visitors to the county’s popular beauty spots this summer are now being asked to have a picnic and not a barbecue to reduce the risks.

Disposable grills left behind while still hot are a known cause of forest and forest fires, as are campfires.

Area Director Marc House, Head of Prevention at DWFRS said:

“Firefighters, control room operators and all Dorset staff & Wiltshire (along with a number of partners) who supported the Wareham Forest fire and more recently the Canford Heath fire, worked extremely hard to bring these incidents to a safe conclusion. These incidents highlight how devastating and resource-consuming wildfires are.

With the nice weather hopefully on the way, it’s natural to want to get outdoors and enjoy it with friends and family, but it’s also important to be mindful of fire when you’re out and about. The idea behind the #BringAPicnicNotABBQ campaign is to remind those who enjoy our countryside that bringing a picnic is a much safer option than having a barbecue.”

More information on how to stay safe and enjoy your outdoor areas while avoiding a fire can be found here.

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