Fires in the Countryside

Thousands of acres of countryside are destroyed every year by fire, although many fires are started deliberately other are easily started accidentally, a carelessly discarded cigarette can lead to a huge fire, the results to the wildlife can be devastating, so please follow this code and help to keep our countryside free from fire.

Do's and Don'ts

• Do extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly
• don't throw cigarette ends out of car windows – they can ruin whole fields of crops
• don't leave bottles or glass in woodlands – sunlight shining through glass can start fires - take them home or put them in a waste or recycling bin
• do only use barbecues in a suitable and safe area and never leave them unattended – more details on safe barbecuing here
• do avoid using open fires in the countryside
• do report a fire in the countryside, immediately
• don't attempt to tackle fires that can’t be put out with a bucket of water – leave the area as quickly as possible
• don't get trapped, stay upwind - a fire in a dry crop field can race across the field in a short time
• do stay aware at all times, fires can jump whole areas with flying embers and surround you quickly

Permission for outdoor fires

A fire in the open can easily get out of control. You should always check with the landowner first whether fires and barbecues are permitted on their land, and only have them in safe, designated areas. Children should always be kept away from any open fire.