Safety advice issued by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Calls to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service to attend out of control garden and rubbish fires doubled this week with the risk of more serious incidents increasing as temperatures continue to rise.

The service today issued new advice encouraging residents not to start any kind of garden or controlled fire following an emergency call-out to a garden fire which had run underground through dry roots and earth to a neighbouring property.

Residents are encouraged not to have any garden fires or controlled burns until further notice to prevent fire spreading underground through dry roots and earth.

General fire safety advice
- site your fire on bare earth, away from dry grass or vegetation that can easily catch fire
- keep bonfires away from overhanging trees and away from sheds, homes and garages, other property and pet enclosures
- do not use petrol or accelerants to light fires
- keep a bucket of water or hose pipe on hand in case of an emergency

Barbecue safety
- keep barbecues away from overhanging trees, sheds, garages, homes and pet enclosures
- never use petrol or accelerants to light barbecues
- if you're using a disposable barbeque place it on a hard, fireproof surface – never on dry grass
- place hot coals onto bare earth to cool down and never put them into a wheelie bin or other bin that could catch fire. Consider the safe disposal of single-use barbecues
- keep a bucket of water or hose pipe on hand in case of an emergency

Fire safety outdoors
- don't discard cigarettes out of car windows – dispose of them properly
- don't leave glass bottles lying around – the sun can magnify through the glass causing a fire
- place barbecues on bare earth, away from dry grass and don't leave them unattended until they're completely extinguished.

In the case of an emergency call 999 immediately.