Firefighters have issued a plea, urging people not to take part in a dangerous social media trend involving setting fire to aerosol cans.
The warning came after West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service crews attended a fire at Horsham Skate Park yesterday (Wednesday 20 August).
They responded to a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a smell of burning.
The fire service: “Upon arrival, firefighters from Horsham Fire Station discovered that refuse, wood and aerosol cans had been deliberately set alight.
“Fortunately, the fire was small and was quickly extinguished. However, following a summer of record-breaking temperatures and prolonged dry weather, the incident could have easily escalated and spread beyond control.
“Fire and rescue services in England and Wales are currently experiencing the busiest year on record for wildfires and residents are being urged to help reduce the risk of further incidents.
“Since the beginning of June, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has responded to 123 deliberately started fires, representing a 38 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.”
Ian James, station manager at Horsham Fire Station, said: “Setting fire to aerosol cans is extremely dangerous and can have serious consequences.
“When exposed to heat, aerosol cans can explode without warning, causing injuries to anyone near by and increasing the risk of a fire spreading rapidly.
“While this incident was brought under control quickly, the outcome could have been very different.
“With vegetation and open spaces extremely dry, it only takes one small ember to put lives, property and the environment at risk.
“We would urge parents and carers to speak to young people about the dangers of copying trends they see online and we ask everyone to act responsibly and help us prevent unnecessary fires in our communities.”
The fire service added that people could reduce the risk of accidentally starting a fire this summer by
- fully extinguishing cigarettes and disposing of them responsibly
- keeping barbecues at home well away from trees, shrubs, fences and sheds and placing them on a stable, flat surface
- keeping a bucket of water or sand near by in case of emergency
- keeping glass bottles, mirrors and other reflective objects out of direct sunlight
- taking litter home and disposing of waste responsibly
