| KFRS has issued safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in fire accidents |
As the spring weather tempts more residents out in to the garden, maybe to start tidying up after the long winter months and dispose of garden waste, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is issuing safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in injury or property damage.
Head of Community Safety, Stuart Skilton, said: "Our fire crews are regularly called to out-of-control garden bonfires and sadly people do get burned, sometimes seriously.
"The safest, most responsible and environmentally friendly way to dispose of garden rubbish is to via your green waste collection or to take it to your local recycling centre. However, if you do light a bonfire the advice is to take extra care and never use petrol, barbecue lighting fluids or other accelerants on them.
Also, never leave any fire unattended and if the bonfire gets out of control, never try to tackle it yourself, you could end up getting hurt. Always call the fire and rescue service who are trained to deal with these types of incidents."
By following the safety tips below, you can help avoid injuries and damage to your property:
- Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges.
- Never use flammable liquids to start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.
- Keep bonfires to a manageable size and evenly built so that they collapse inwards as they burn.
- Always check the bonfire's construction is still sound prior to lighting it, that there are no children or animals inside.
- Don't leave bonfires unattended. An adult should supervise it until it has burnt out.
- If it has to be left, damp it down with plenty of water.
- Always keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe nearby in case of an emergency.