Countryside Safety

Did you know?

"Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property - so be careful not to drop a match or smouldering cigarette at any time of the year."

forest fire

The service gives the following advice on fire safety in the countryside:

Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials correctly. Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows.
Do not leave bottles or glass in woodlands as the sun shining through glass can start large fires. Take them home or put them in a waste or recycling bin.
Only use barbecues at specially designated sites and never leave them unattended. If you are visiting the New Forest, view details of their special barbecue sites before you go.
- Keep young children and ball games away from barbecues.
- Ensure your barbecue is fully extinguished and cold before disposal and never discard used coals anywhere except in bins designed specially for the purpose.
Avoid using open fires in the countryside.
If you see a fire in the countryside report it and leave the area immediately. Give a map reference if possible, otherwise give a landmark such as a farm or pub to help locate the fire. Sometimes, controlled fires are used to manage vegetation, particularly on heaths and moors between October and early April, so please check that a fire is not supervised before calling 999.
Do not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water.

After a dry winter, fires on any heathland, particularly The New Forest, can pose a serious threat to lives and property, that is why you need to understand the danger and help prevent a disastrous incident. To help you do this The Forestry Commission will be posting current fire risk information on their website, so if you are planning a trip to the New Forest, check it out before you go.

A fire in the countryside can cause many thousands of pounds worth of damage and kill hundreds of wild animals and birds. Many such fires are caused by the carelessness of people using the countryside, or by children deliberately starting fires. Ten seconds of carelessness can cause fires that take ten hours to put out and ten years to regrow. View details of the number of heath and woodland fires tackled by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service each year.