Fire service says what you must NOT do if you spot people barbecuing in heatwave ban

Fire service says what you must NOT do if you spot people barbecuing in heatwave ban Brits have been told not to light barbecues, campfires or anything else that could spark fire during period of extreme heat the the threat wildfires continue across the UK Fire services are reporting a high volume of calls and urged people not to call 999 to report those having barbecues unless there is an emergency following the Government’s alert about wildfires. The UK’s mobile phone alert system was used on Friday evening to warn people not to light anything which could spark a wildfire, including barbecues and garden incinerators. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told members of the public to take the warning “seriously” and said it was triggered at the request of firefighters. Surrey Fire & Rescue Service was among those experiencing a large n of 999 calls. In a statement on X, the service said: “Please only call 999 if there is an emergency or a fire producing significant smoke. “We understand residents may be concerned, but we are unable to respond to reports of neighbours having BBQs, bonfires or campfires in their gardens unless there is an emergency.” The service said it supported the Government’s message and advised against bonfires, fireworks, campfires or disposable barbecues in the dry conditions. Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said it appreciated the public’s “vigilance”, but in a statement on Facebook asked people to call 999 only if there is “a genuine emergency or an immediate risk to life, property or the environment”. That message was echoed by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who asked for 999 calls only to report “a new emergency”. Four 14-year-old boys were bailed on Friday after being arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire was set on a mountain near Pleasant Heights in Porth, South Wales Police said. Nineteen homes were destroyed on Thursday in a wildfire in the West Midlands which spread across more than 500 acres in Stourbridge. Around 30 homes were destoryed and dozens more damaged with scenes described as being like a war movie The fire began in a popular children's park nearby before the flames quickly spread across grassland and tore through neighbouring homes. Six properties were devastated and around 50 residents had to be evacuated during the terrifying blaze. Paramedics treated 54 patients, including 19 who were taken to hospital, as a result of wildfires across the West Midlands, the region's ambulance service said. The prime minister, on a visit to Stourbridge, described the country as a “tinderbox right now”, adding that this weekend could be a really difficult one. A temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues has now been issued by the government. Friday night's warning formed part of the Government’s action to protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires as the UK faces unprecedented, record-breaking wildfire activity following a series of intense summer heatwaves. The country is now experiencing its fifth widespread heatwave of the year, while fire services have been under immense strain. Eleven major incidents were declared simultaneously within a 24-hour period, forcing firefighters, alongside military personnel, to tackle active blazes across the country and prompting the Government’s stark warning to millions.