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  		Fire safety warning for the 天涯社区 countryside
  		Published: 04/07/2018
天涯社区 Countryside Service is urging people to take extreme care in the 
countryside during the current hot weather and take all possible steps to 
prevent fires.
The warning comes as fires affected land in parts of Gwynedd and Anglesey, as 
well as the devastating fires in the North West of England.
Councillor Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside, 
said: 鈥淲hilst many of us will be enjoying this unusually prolonged spell of 
extremely hot weather, it does not come without risk.  The ground is now tinder 
dry and the risk of fire is increasing by the day.  A fire out of doors, 
whether started deliberately or accidently, can spread and cover large areas 
very quickly.  Simple precautions such as avoiding barbeques in the open 
countryside and making sure that lit cigarettes are discarded properly and 
safely can significantly reduce the risk of fire.  We would ask people to 
please take the utmost care when in the countryside and take all necessary 
steps to protect against fire.鈥
Kevin Roberts, Senior Fire Safety Manager, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service 
said: 鈥淚n these dry conditions, fires involving grass, bracken and heather can 
develop extremely quickly, especially in raised winds, and fires can soon get 
out of control and spread to neighbouring properties or forestry, with the need 
for us then to attend to extinguish them.
鈥淪o if you are out, it is more important than ever in these conditions to make 
sure that any smoking materials are discarded and extinguished properly. If you 
are out camping, again make sure that campfires or barbeques are fully 
extinguished. Better still, avoid open fires altogether in this dry period.
 鈥淭hese fires place tremendous pressure on our resources, with firefighters 
tied up for a considerable length of time working to bring them under control. 
Quite often they also happen in areas where access is extremely difficult and 
water supply is limited.
 鈥淩emember - setting fires is a criminal offence and we are actively working 
alongside North Wales Police to combat deliberate incidents 鈥 those found to be 
responsible will be prosecuted.鈥