Brand Director at Barbour EHS

April 29, 2020

Download

State of Physical Access Trend Report 2024

London lockdown sees spike in outdoor waste burning

Firefighters in London have seen a spike in bonfires as Londoners take to burning waste at home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Recent figures released by London Fire Brigade show there has been a 7.4% increase in outdoor fires in the last four weeks compared to the same period last year.

Crews have attended 844 outdoor fires during those weeks, compared with 786 in 2019.

The largest number of outdoor fires occurred in the second and third week of lockdown, which coincided with the warmer weather.

The Brigade’s Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operational Delivery and Assurance, Richard Mills, said: “Our call records indicate that the increase in outdoor fires was in bonfire-related activity which suggests people are burning garden and household waste.

“This is likely to be because with more time at home there has been more spring cleaning and those with gardens have had the first opportunity of the year to get outside and tidy up.

“Changes to bin collections in some boroughs and with many waste and recycling centres shut, it’s looking like more people are taking to burning their excess rubbish.

“We would urge people to consider if their bonfire is necessary and to take care if they are burning waste at home.

“Always check your local authority’s advice on bonfires and follow our safety tips such as never using paraffin or petrol, building your bonfire clear of buildings, sheds and fences and never leaving your bonfire unattended.”

This news story is in partnership with Barbour EHS, a specialist information service provider supporting professionals across sectors including fire and security, FM, health and safety, sustainability and energy.

2023 Fire Safety eBook – Grab your free copy!

Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.

Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.

FireSafetyeBook-CoverPage-23

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Topics: