People are being urged to put away their barbecues today as Cumbria heats up.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service have called for people to opt for a picnic instead to reduce the “real risk” of wildfires erupting across the county.
The call comes after Keswick fire station extinguished a barbecue which was found alight in a public bin at the weekend.
The team said without prompt intervention, incidents like this can cause devastating consequences.
Temperatures are set to reach up to 31 degrees across the county today and alongside the Met Office’s Amber alert for the region, the Fire Severity Index (FSI) for parts of Cumbria has been classified as high and very high.
The Met Office’s Fire Severity Index is an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start. It is not an assessment of the risk of wildfires occurring.
Image: Met Office
Advice issued by the fire service today includes avoiding lighting fires or barbecues in rural areas, making sure cigarette ends are disposed of responsibly and taking litter home, especially glass bottles.
They added that following advice will help protect agriculture, wildlife and the overall countryside in your area.
