Garden fire warning in West Sussex as temperatures rise
Firefighters in West Sussex are urging residents to be alert to the prospect of garden fires as temperatures get warmer.
Crews have attended six incidents in the last two weeks.
These include a fire in the open on Church Road in Broadbridge Heath on 23 April, and a garden fire in Crawley a day later that affected two properties.
Garden fires were also attended in North Bersted, Southwater, and Gossops Green.
Crawley Fire Station Manager James McGrath said: “With more people spending time in their gardens this Bank Holiday weekend, we want to remind everyone of some simple steps they can take to help prevent fires and keep themselves and their neighbours safe.
“Never leave barbecues unattended and always keep them well away from anything that could catch fire, including fences, sheds, dry grass, and garden furniture.
“Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the correct method of ignition to light your barbecue.
"If you are using a gas barbecue, ensure the cylinder is turned off before changing it and always do this outdoors.
“We would strongly discourage people from having garden bonfires, particularly in built-up residential areas, as they can spread quickly, affect neighbouring properties and cause significant nuisance and distress to nearby residents.
“Smoking materials should always be fully extinguished and disposed of safely.
"Residents with balconies should take extra care to ensure cigarettes are properly put out and never discarded from height, as they can easily cause fires in neighbouring balconies, gardens or external areas below.
“Large lithium-ion batteries used in garden power tools, electric bikes and e-scooters can also present a significant fire risk.
"Avoid charging batteries overnight or when unattended, use the correct charger for the device, and unplug chargers once batteries are fully charged.
“Flammable materials stored in sheds and outbuildings should be kept securely and well away from potential sources of ignition.”