With summer finally making an appearance Norfolk’s firefighters are offering some timely safety advice.

Every year fire destroys thousands of acres of countryside, forestry and other wildlife habitats across the country. Some fires are started deliberately, but most could easily be prevented by following some simple safety advice.

Roy Harold, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “After something of a slow start to the summer to say the least we will all no doubt want to make the most of the sunshine. Norfolk Fire and Rescue has a few simple tips for making sure you and your family stay safe this summer whatever you are planning, be it a barbecue or a boat trip.”

As well as issuing general safety advice about being careful with matches, barbecues and discarded cigarettes fire officers are asking people to please be aware of the following:

• One of the biggest dangers is people using flammable liquids to light the barbecue. Please prepare well in advance and light the charcoal early.
• Don’t have a bonfire of any size during a sustained dry period. This is particularly important in rural areas.
• If you see a fire please ring 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service even for a small fire, it can very soon become a big fire and get out of control.
• We may be very busy but we are never too busy to answer your call.
• For anyone working on the land it is essential to have at least one fire extinguisher on your vehicle, preferably water. If possible have a water browser, slurry tanker or sprayer nearby when harvesting or baling.
• Do not fill your fuel tank completely full during hot weather. Fuel must have room to expand.
• Anyone planning to use fireworks/Chinese lanterns is asked to exercise caution as a stray firework/lantern is an obvious hazard.

Firefighters are also reminding people to follow the safety advice printed on all barbecues especially disposable ones, following a number of tragic fatal incidents in the UK in the last year.

Mr Harold said: “Our key message is to never take a lit or smouldering barbecue into a tent or caravan awning. Even a smouldering barbecue can give off deadly carbon monoxide for many hours after it’s been used.”

For further fire safety information including Out and About, Fire Safety on Boats, Fire Safety Outside, Camping and Outdoors, Barbecue Safety and Carbon Monoxide – The Silent Killer please visit us at www.norfolkfireservice.co.uk or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.