ADVICE on lighting small fires during the hot weather has been given by Wellington Fire Brigade after one of the town’s two pumps was called out only to find it was a false alarm.

The Wellington appliance was mobilised to a ‘fire in the open’ but on arrival found it was a controlled fire contained within a skip.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) spokesman said with the weather improving more people were getting out and about.

So, anybody considering a small fire should be aware of a few simple steps to avoid the fire brigade being called out unnecessarily:

  • Call DSFR’s control room on 0333 3399 0014, which allows staff to manage any calls from passers-by

  • Stay with the fire while it burns to ensure it does not spread and escalate

  • Ensure a method of extinguishing the fire is to hand, such as a hosepipe or bucket of water

  • Make sure the fire burns out or is fully extinguished when finished