South Yorkshire firefighters are called to thousands of outdoor fires every year, and many of these can easily be avoided! You can help reduce the risk of fires in your area by following some of the simple safety tips in this section.

Wheelie Bins

Did you know that every year in South Yorkshire alone there are more than 1,000 wheelie bin fires? Most are started deliberately, and they often threaten life and property. Please don’t let your wheelie bin be next! To reduce the risk of arson attacks on wheelie bins, we advise that you:

• Don’t store wheelie bins in close proximity to a building
• Don’t allow rubbish to block escape routes
• Don’t store rubbish by windows or any other opening of a building
• Don’t put wheelie bins out for emptying until the refuse collectors are due
• Don’t overfill your wheelie bin, or leave loose rubbish round it
• Store wheelie bins safely and securely, wherever possible, limiting the opportunity for arson

For further information call Community Fire Safety on 0114 253 2314

Barbecues and Camping

Fire safety shouldn’t stop when you leave your home. Carelessness outdoors can have fatal results and fires can also destroy huge areas of countryside and delicate ecosystems.

To barbecue safely and avoid injuries or damage to property, follow these simple tips:

• Make sure your barbecue is in good working order
• Keep a bucket of water or sand, or a garden hose nearby, in case of emergencies
• Make sure your barbecue site is flat and away from sheds, fences, trees and shrubs
• Never use petrol or paraffin to start or revive your barbecue; use only recognised lighters or starter fuel, on cold coals
• Keep children, garden games and pets away from the cooking area
• Never leave the barbecue unattended
• After cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before trying to move it; empty ashes onto bare garden soil, not into the bin
• Barbecues should never be lit indoors

You can follow these basic precautions while camping to reduce the risk of fire:

• Ensure caravans and tents are at least six metres apart
• Make sure you know what the fire-fighting arrangements on the site are and where the nearest telephone is
• Keep a torch handy for emergencies – don’t use a lit candle

And if you stay in a caravan:

• Fit a smoke detector
• Take special care when cooking – don’t leave pans unattended
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children
• If you smoke, use suitable metal ashtrays – and never smoke in bed
• Don’t leave children alone inside
• Don’t block air vents – this can be fatal

For more advice on staying safe outdoors contact our Community Fire Safety Hotline on 0114 2532314. 

Garden Fires and Bonfires

Whether you are holding an organised event or burning your garden rubbish, there are some simple guidelines which should be followed to ensure the safety of you and your property. These can be found on our fireworks and bonfires page.

Fire Safety on Boats

Fires on boats are not as common as fires on land.  The following tips will help you stay safe and avoid the risk of fire afloat:

• Fit and maintain a smoke alarm. Optical alarms are best for boats – think carefully where you fit them so they can wake people up
• Take care to ventilate the cabin to reduce the build up of poisonous gases, such as carbon monoxide, and the risk of fumes igniting
• Check and maintain your fuel, gas and electrical systems on your boat regularly
• Do not allow oil or debris to build up in the bilges
• Always keep track of your position or location so you can tell the emergency services where you are
• Keep extinguishers and blankets within easy reach, close to exits and high risk areas, such as the galley or the engine
• In the event of fire, move everyone off the boat immediately – if you are offshore, notify the Coastguard by radio, make a Mayday call, or display a distress signal

Countryside

Every year, fire destroys thousands of acres of countryside and wildlife habitats. Some fires are started deliberately, but most are due to carelessness and a few simple precautions can prevent them.

Follow these tips to reduce the risks of wildfires in the countryside:

• Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly
• Never 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
• Only use barbecues in a suitable and safe area and never leave them unattended
• Avoid using open fires in the countryside
• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it 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

Thatched roofs are always at risk from fire. Once a fire has taken hold in a thatched roof, it will spread rapidly. In addition to following all the usual precautions for fire safety in the home, if you are in a thatched building, you should also:

• Keep chimneys and flues clean and well-maintained
• Use a bulkhead type light fitting in your loft space
• Never burn rubbish or garden waste near the property
• Never light fireworks near a thatched property
• Fit television aerials to a freestanding pole. Where this is not possible, the aerial should be fixed to a gable or gable-end chimney, where the cable can be run down the wall, avoiding contact with the thatch.

Water Safety

Both water and ice can be dangerous. Whether out at sea or by a river, canal, lake or pond you can enjoy water safely if you understand the dangers and follow some basic rules.

• Obey warning notices. Don't interfere with safety equipment or life buoys or damage warning notices
• Children should never go boating, exploring or fishing near water alone. Always go into the countryside in a group, and always tell your parents where you are going
• Avoid locks and weirs - they may have dangerous currents
• Take care around banks - they may be slippery or crumbly
• Never leave small children unsupervised near open water. They should always have an adult present for water activities
• Always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid when boating, sailing or canoeing
• Learn water safety, rescue and first aid skills

Ice

• Keep off all frozen water. Never dare someone to walk onto the ice
• Never go onto the ice to help someone who has fallen in. Always call for help
• Don't send your pet onto the ice