Agenda item

Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Steve Morgan presented the report. 

During the summer 2020 an informal position statement on disposable barbecues was agreed by the Chief Fire Officer and the Chairman, which was used widely following the Darwen and Longridge fires.  This called for people to stop using disposable barbecues in the countryside. A number of local and national political leaders took up this call for a ban.

These two large wildfires had a significant impact on performance with a 25% increase in wildfire incidents in 2020 compared to 2019 and a 36% increase in pump deployments, with estimated resourcing costs of approximately £850,000.

It was noted that the National Fire Chiefs Council was also now asking the public to ensure they did their upmost to prevent outdoor fires from occurring. Many outdoor fires started from portable BBQs, litter and campfires. At the current time where fire and rescue services were also working to assist in the Covid-19 response, people were asked to exercise caution and please avoid lighting fires in the countryside.

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority Position Statement

“Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (CFA) is calling for people to stop using disposable barbecues in the countryside to reduce the amount of harm caused by wildfires.  Wildfires are easily started and can spread rapidly putting people, property and infrastructure at risk. The terrain makes them challenging to firefight and demands large amounts of resources from the service and our partners.

Lancashire knows only too well the devastating effects of wildfires following a fire on Winter Hill near Bolton in summer 2018 which destroyed 18 square kilometres of moorland. Despite this, we continue to experience avoidable fires in open spaces across the county, causing long-lasting harm to wildlife, habitats and biodiversity.

The CFA believes that the threat to the environment and our communities can be significantly reduced if people enjoy Lancashire’s great outdoors without using disposable barbecues.”

Members considered whether the position statement should include either option 1: a ban on the sale of disposable BBQs or option 2: a restriction on the use of disposable BBQs in public open spaces – specifically around moorlands and forestation.

Councillor Smith proposed option 1 which was a ban on the sale of disposable BBQs and County Councillor Holgate seconded the motion.  On being put to the vote: 5 Members were in favour; 4 Members were against and 1 Member did not respond.  The motion was therefore CARRIED.

Fire Safety & Business Support Information

It was noted that preventative work would be carried out 1 June 2021 – 30 September 2021, which would focus on reducing moorland and grassland fires.  The objectives of prevention activity were to: i) reduced risk of wildfires during summer period (1 June – 30 Sept 2021); ii) collaborate with partners in key areas; and iii) increase understanding of the risk of wildfires from disposable barbecue, campfire use and discarding of cigarettes and litter.

RESOLVED: - That the report be noted and endorsed including the inclusion in the position statement for a ban on the sale of disposable BBQ’s.