According to the Met Office, Suffolk is one of the sunniest areas in the UK, and it’s certainly felt that way over recent weeks when our county has been able to benefit from some glorious weather.
We’re incredibly fortunate to have some fantastic places to enjoy when the sun starts to shine, including Southwold beach and Constable Country, but we must make sure that we do all we can to protect these open spaces from the risk of fire.
On a warm day, litter and grass can become very dry, leading to an increased likelihood of a fire catching and spreading. Sadly, we are not immune to this in Suffolk, with firefighters recently attending a large heath fire in Rushmere.
Please help our fire service this summer by following some simple steps to minimise the risk of fires in the open. You can make a real difference by:
- Putting your litter in the bin when out and about
- Avoiding barbecues and campfires in public open spaces
- Ensuring that any cigarettes are totally put out and disposed of properly
- Not leaving any glass items lying around after a picnic
Of course, the good weather may also tempt you to take a dip in a lake or river in the hope of cooling down, but before you take the plunge you should be aware that around 85% of drownings take place in open water. Many people don’t realise the danger to life posed by the shock from cold water temperatures, strong currents and uneven banks and riverbeds, and I’d urge everyone to follow guidance from the Royal Life Saving Society to help prevent death or serious injury.
Hopefully, with your assistance, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service won’t need to attend as many water rescues and fires in the open this summer – but responding to incidents is just part of their invaluable role. A lot of the service’s work involves preventing fires from happening in the first place by educating people on what they can do to stay safe, including testing their smoke alarms weekly and taking care when cooking. They are also on hand to provide fire guidance to local businesses and organisations to ensure the safety of customers, those attending events, and residents of shared buildings such as apartment blocks.
Whilst Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service always looks to work with companies in the first instance – offering them the opportunity to make necessary adjustments to comply with fire regulations – sometimes we are left with no option but to prosecute. There have already been two significant prosecutions this year because of the service’s tireless efforts to protect Suffolk. Recently, the company responsible for Worlingham Hall – a popular wedding and events venue in Beccles – pleaded guilty to a string of serious fire offences and will face sentencing later this year. Their blatant disregard for safety put hundreds of people at risk and the intervention of our Protection team will have doubtlessly prevented injury, or even death, in the event of a fire at the property.
Officers also successfully secured the sentencing of Ipaxis – an Ipswich property management company – back in March, resulting in a £20,000 fine after they failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment for their premises. This is a fantastic outcome and sends a clear message to Suffolk businesses that fire enforcement breaches will not be tolerated in our county.
Despite being incredibly busy with responding to incidents and their prevention and protection work, staff from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service continue to raise much needed funds for charity. Earlier this year, the service donated over £8,000 to Ukraine and The Firefighters Charity following a day of car washes held at stations across the county. They are now hoping to build on this success at the 2022 Fire Ride, which will be held at Ipswich East Fire Station this Sunday, July 10.
The ride is open to all cyclists, including seasoned pros and those looking to get back into the saddle, and a large proportion of the entrance fee – £20 in advance, or £30 on the day – will go directly to The Firefighters Charity, which helps both serving and former fire service staff with their health and wellbeing. Places are still available - find out more www.suffolkfireride.co.uk
Please do support Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service this summer, be it signing up for the Fire Ride, or doing all you can to protect yourself and our county’s places during the good weather.
