Exmouth firefighters raise awareness of beach barbecue safety

EXMOUTH firefighters teamed up the town's beach rescue, Exmouth RNLI lifeguards and East Devon District Council in a bid to promote beach barbecue safety.

EXMOUTH firefighters teamed up the town's beach rescue, Exmouth RNLI lifeguards and East Devon District Council in a bid to promote beach barbecue safety.

The fire service said the campaign was prompted by a recent spate of seafront and Maer rubbish bin fires caused by hot barbecues being dumped in bins while still alight.

In an attempt to prevent the outbreak of fire and protect the public from injury, advice leaflets have this week been handed out to the public barbecuing on Exmouth beach.

Exmouth crew commander Giles White said district council refuse collectors regularly found lit barbecues dumped in seafront bins.

He said: "We are not trying to spoil people's day - we are trying to make their stay at Exmouth safer.

"By giving advice on the correct disposal of barbeques we hope to avoid injury and further fires along the seafront.

"People may not realise that when you remove a barbeque from the beach the sand beneath can still be extremely hot and if stepped on will cause a severe burn.

"By using a bucket of water to extinguish the barbeque and then cooling the surrounding area you can stop the risk."

For more information about barbecue safety visit www.firekills.direct.gov.uk