Barbecues, bonfires, caravans, Christmas trees and days out on the boat are key for a classic Kiwi summer, so now is the time to refresh on some fire safety tips to avoid dangerous situations.

Bay of Plenty Fire and Emergency risk reduction adviser and investigator, Jon Rewi said general carelessness and lack of consideration for fire safety is a recipe for disaster during the summer season.

Firstly, if a barbecue or bonfire gets out of control, evacuate the area and call 111 to request a fire brigade.

However, it is best to avoid this outcome with safety measures.

Barbecue

Jon recommends using gas fuelled barbecues and ensuring that you keep it clean of oils and fats before and during cooking to prevent flare-ups or accidents.

Make sure the connection between the gas cylinder and the fuel line isn’t leaking. You can check this by spraying soapy water onto the connection. If it starts foaming it means you have a leak. Get it checked by a professional before using it.

“Before lighting a barbecue, ensure that it is in a safe place out of the way of children playing,” said Jon.

It’s important to keep looking when you’re cooking and stay vigilant, don’t drink and fry.

If you are using a barbecue that has ashes, be sure to dispose of them safely. Put them into a mental bucket with a lid, then thoroughly douse them with water.

Fire and Emergency said ashes can stay hot enough to start a fire for up to five days.

Bonfire

“Best practise is to dampen vegetation before and during burning and always having a good reliable water supply nearby that is usable.

“Do not use accelerant for lighting bonfires, this is dangerous,” Jon said.

“Do not leave a fire unattended. If it’s still burning, use dirt or sand to extinguish the fire, with water being the primary extinguishing agent.

“The weather directly impacts on fire spread, such as wind, so ensure the conditions are appropriate for lighting a fire.

“BOP Regional Council has released a bylaw for open air burning in its regional plan. The bylaw means that open air fires [except for cooking fires] cannot be lit on urban properties – defined as “any property that is less than 2ha and is connected to a municipal wastewater system”, or within 100m of a dwelling, without resource consent.”

Caravans

Fire and Emergency said the risk of a small fire turning into something serious is far greater in a small space like a caravan.

To avoid this from happening, install a photoelectric smoke alarm and test it regularly. You can Velcro the alarm to the ceiling so that it can be removed when cooking.

For light, use a proper lighting unit or torches, never use candles.

Make sure furniture and fittings are at least 1m from the heater. Fan heaters with a cut-off switch are the safest.

Make sure that you have a clear escape route in case something goes wrong.

Have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket near the exit and make sure you know how to use it.

Christmas trees

Real Christmas trees can pose a fire risk if they don’t get the required care.

Fire and Emergency advises to treat it as you would a house plant by making sure it gets lots of water.

Regular watering will prevent the tree from drying out and make it a safer for tree lights or electrical tree decorations.

Make sure to turn the tree lights off before you go to sleep or when you go out.

Securely position the tree in a cool place away from busy areas, stairs and doors, especially those leading outside.

If your tree becomes dry and begins to shed needles, you should remove it from the house.

After Christmas, when you are ready to get rid of your Christmas tree, dispose of your tree appropriately, don’t leave it beside the house or garage.

Boats

A fire on board a boat can have disastrous consequences, so it’s important to plan for such an event to increase your chances of survival.

Fire and Emergency said to keep all routes leading from the accommodation area clean.

Make sure that you have firefighting equipment that is appropriate to the risks. It should be maintained, in good order and easy to access.

An emergency evacuation should be practiced regularly with the consideration that a fire could be in any on-board location.

“Ensure the correct lifejackets are available for all passengers on board,” said Jon.

Ensure batteries are properly secured in a location that does not permit the accommodation of hydrogen gas.

Make sure all gas or liquid-fuelled heating, refrigeration, or cooking appliances are properly secured to prevent them from overturning in rough seas.

Make sure a working photoelectric smoke alarm is fitted in the accommodation area.

“Refuel ashore, never abroad,” said Fire and Emergency.

Before taking on fuel, stop the engine, turn off all cooking, heating and lighting appliances, extinguish all cigarettes, pipes and any naked flames, close all hatches, doors and the like, and monitor the fuel level to avoid over filling.

Ensure that no fuel vapours can accumulate unseen within the boat and mop up any spillage.

Ventilate the boat before starting up the engine or using naked lights.

Don’t carry spare petrol unless it’s essential. If required, store a limited supply of spare fuel in approved containers and keep them securely on the upper deck.

When storing gas cylinders, ensure they are either secured on deck away from hatches so any escaping gas disperses, or place them in a properly designed and ventilated container above the water line.

Permits

If you want to light a fire in open air, you need to know the fire season and whether you need a permit.

You can find out the changes to the fire seasons through the radio and newspaper and on www.checkitsalright.nz.

There are three fire seasons: open, restricted, and prohibited.

You will need a permit to light campfires, bonfires and various types of agricultural burns during a restricted season. However, these are banned during a prohibited season and fire permits are available in limited circumstances.

You do not need a permit for pizza ovens, charcoal barbecues, chimineas and cultural fires of less than 2sq m.

Braziers, incinerators and fire pits/bowls can also be used during a restricted fire season, subject to strict conditions, however, they are banned during a prohibited fire season.

There is no charge for a fire permit and it will usually be processed and arrive via email within five working days.

Lighting a fire during a restricted or prohibited fire season without a permit is an offence against the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.

Visit www.checkitsalright.nz to learn about the current fire season and to apply for a permit.

If you have any questions email firepermit.enquires@fireandemergency.nz or call 0800 658 628.