Take care with having a bonfire in the garden this summer

With the warmer weather it can be tempting to do a bit of gardening and get rid of the waste by having a bonfire, but following a recent incident, Kent Fire & rescue service urge caution.

Firefighters are urging home owners planning on having a bonfire in their garden to make sure they never leave them unattended. The request comes after Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to a fire involving a bonfire in a fire pit in the back garden of a property in Chequers Road, Minster-on-Sea which was out of control, due to it being left unattended. The fire spread to scrap metal that was kept in the garden that surrounded the fire pit, which then spread the neighbouring property’s garden due to high flames, wind and radiated heat. The fire caused extensive damage to the gardens of both properties and involved trees and shrubbery. There were no reported injuries. Crews tackled the fire using rose reel jets and rakes and worked in arduous conditions to bring the fire under control.

Top tips for bonfire safety:

Never use flammable liquids to help start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.
Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences, hedges and overhanging branches.
Keep bonfires to a manageable size and evenly built so that they collapse inwards as they burn.
Never leave bonfires unattended.  An adult should supervise it until it has burnt out.  If it has to be left, damp it down with water.
Keep a bucket of water or hosepipe nearby in case of emergency.
Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.

If you need further guidance please call our home safety team on 0800 923 7000

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