Brigade's hot weather warning

01 August 2008

London Fire Brigade is urging Londoners to be vigilant in the warm weather and be on the look out for grass fire - as the last few summers have seen a number of fires in the Capital’s open spaces.

London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety Steve Turek said: “Grass fires are both time consuming and difficult for firefighters to deal with. They spread quickly, killing plants and wildlife and putting nearby properties at risk. We want Londoners to take extra care when enjoying the city’s parks and open spaces and ensure they are safe for all of us.”

People can reduce the risk of grass fires and make their summer safer by following a few simple rules:

• Don't leave camp fires or barbeques unattended and extinguish them properly after you have finished using them.
• clear away bottles, glasses and any broken glass to avoid them magnifying the sun and starting a fire. 
• Dispose of smoking materials properly and make sure they are completely extinguished. 
• Talk to young people about the dangers of playing with and lighting fires. 
• If you see a fire, don't attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can travel very quickly and change direction without warning. Call the Fire Brigade, and if you can, stay around so that you can direct firefighters to the scene - but only if it is safe to do so.

For more information about fire safety visit www.london-fire.gov.uk

Note to editors:
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Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:

telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk