Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a new Amber wildfire alert on 8 July 2022, asking people to take extra care with camp fires, bonfires and barbecues over the coming days1. The service said the warning coincides with a prolonged period of hot, dry weather, meaning that any fire could spread quickly and more easily due to the conditions1.
The service said there have been a number of large heath fires across its area in recent years, causing damage to heath, woodland and wildlife, and that many of them could have been avoided with more care1. Its area covers Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset, Swindon and Wiltshire1.
Group Manager Brad Stevens said:
"While the sunshine is very welcome after the recent rains, it does mean an increased risk of wildfires starting. If you're visiting our heathlands, woodlands or countryside, please avoid having a campfire and bring a picnic, not a barbecue, just a few simple steps can make a real difference."
The service's safety points for the coming days, as published, were1:
| Guidance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Open spaces | No barbecues or campfires on heath or in open spaces; the risk of a fire starting is too great |
| Rules | Barbecues and campfires are banned in many country parks, campsites and open spaces; check what is allowed where you are |
| Cigarettes | Extinguish properly; do not throw ends on the ground or out of car windows; take litter home |
| Reporting a fire | Get to a safe place and call 999 immediately, giving as much detail as possible about location, using the What3Words app if necessary, and wait for help |
| Landowners and land managers | Be prepared for fires where possible; ensure fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with cut grasses and vegetation removed |
| Bonfires at home | Have a garden hose to hand; never use petrol or another accelerant to start one |
| Siting | Never leave a bonfire or barbecue unattended; site them well away from fences, trees or buildings |
| Coals and fire pits | They stay hot for hours; douse with water and do not dispose of remnants until absolutely sure they are cold |
The service also promoted the hashtag #BringAPicnicNotABBQ as an easy way to stay safe, and pointed to its outdoor safety pages at dwfire.org.uk/safety-outdoors for more information1.
Why it matters for households
The alert covers the service's whole area, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset, Swindon and Wiltshire, and applies to the coming days over a period of hot, dry weather1. For households, the practical effect is on anything that can start a fire outdoors: the service asks people not to have barbecues or campfires on heath or in open spaces, and notes that both are banned in many country parks, campsites and open spaces, so visitors should check the rules where they are1. For those lighting bonfires or barbecues at home, the service advises never leaving them unattended, siting them well away from fences, trees or buildings, keeping a garden hose to hand, never using petrol or another accelerant, and dousing coals and fire pits with water and not disposing of the remnants until they are cold1. Landowners and land managers are advised to prepare for fires where possible, with fire breaks cut and maintained and cut vegetation removed1. Anyone who sees a fire in the countryside is asked to get to a safe place and call 999 immediately, giving as much detail as possible about the location and using the What3Words app if necessary, then wait for help1. Further detail on staying safe outdoors is on the service's own pages1, and this guide covers barbecues and wildfire risk in dry weather, wildfires and grass fires and protecting your home and garden from a wildfire, with the wider heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
The service did not state in its announcement when the Amber wildfire alert would be lifted or how long the hot, dry period was expected to last; no end date has been reported1.
Barbecues and Wildfire Risk
Wildfires and Grass Fires
Wildfire Home Protection
