The recent heatwave brought additional fire risks, particularly for businesses with outdoor areas, commercial kitchens, electrical equipment, LPG, combustible materials, or large numbers of visitors.
For seasonal businesses, these risks increased during the hot spell. Even businesses that operate throughout the year, a heatwave can change conditions enough to warrant a review of existing fire precautions.
Why Will a Heatwave Increase Fire Risks?
The recent hot weather didn’t automatically mean that fires are more likely to start. However, hot temperatures, exceptionally dry conditions, and changes in use can introduce additional hazards.
For example, dry grass ignites more readily, while outdoor cooking, smoking and increased use of electrical equipment can introduce additional ignition sources.
Businesses may also deal with:
- More customers and visitors
- Temporary outdoor facilities
- BBQs and outdoor cooking
- Increased use of LPG
- Additional refrigeration or cooling equipment
- More combustible waste
- Dry vegetation around buildings
The key point is that fire risk is never static. Government fire-safety guidance advises reviewing fire risk assessments when significant changes affect fire precautions. Changes in equipment, activities, stock levels, and the number of people present can all be relevant.
What Fire Risks Increase in a Heatwave?
A prolonged heatwave is a good time to ask whether your existing fire safety arrangements are still up to the job. Risks can change or heighten – and there can be entirely new risks.
- Dry grass and vegetation give fire a route. During prolonged dry weather, grass, hedges, leaves and other vegetation can become highly combustible. This matters particularly for businesses such as campsites, holiday parks, farms, wedding venues, and country pubs. It’s critical to have the right fire extinguishers, in the right places, and staff trained to use them. It’d be wise to – at least temporarily – ban smoking and disposable barbecues.
- Campsites and caravan parks face multiple additional risks: heatwave conditions can bring several fire hazards together. Dry grass + tents + caravans + BBQs + LPG + electrical connections + vehicles + large numbers of visitors = a perfect storm. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service states there should be at least six metres between tents and caravans, and stoves, heaters, or BBQs must NEVER be used inside tents.
- Caravans are also potential fire hazards. Cookers, electrical systems, gas supplies, heaters, and highly combustible furnishings can all contribute to fire risk. Site owners should ensure that visitors understand the site’s fire safety arrangements and know what to do in an emergency. Cheshire Fire and Rescue recommends smoke alarms and suitable firefighting equipment for caravans, alongside safe use, and storage of LPG.
- BBQs create additional summer fire risks – hot weather and BBQs go together. Add a few drinks and increased carelessness and we have additional problems. The BBQ itself isn’t necessarily the issue, but its proximity to combustible materials. Clear instructions, appropriate facilities, and sensible supervision can significantly reduce the likelihood of a BBQ starting a fire.
- Electrical equipment can be under additional strain during a heatwave, maybe operating for longer or working harder. Check for damaged plugs or cables, overloaded sockets or inappropriate extension leads. NEVER ignore a change in how electrical equipment looks, sounds, smells or behaves.
- Restaurants, pubs, hotels, and food businesses already have significant fire risks associated with cooking equipment. During hot weather, additional heat and increased demand can make good housekeeping and maintenance even more important – along with appropriate fire extinguishers.
Francis Fire supplies and installs a range of extinguisher types, including water, foam, powder, wet chemical, and CO₂ extinguishers, depending on the application. We will ensure the right extinguisher for the right premises. We’ll even show you how to use it, and service it for you.
Summer Events Mean New Fire Risks
Even when there isn’t a heatwave, Summer is also the season for:
- Weddings
- Festivals
- Fêtes and fayres
- Outdoor catering
- Sporting events
- Corporate events
- Temporary bars
- Marquees and teepees
Seasonal or temporary arrangements bring hazards that aren’t present during normal business operations. This may include generators, LPG, catering equipment, decorative lighting, and candles for example. Double check emergency access and evacuation routes – and ensure your fire extinguishers are suitable.
Are your Fire Extinguishers Appropriate?
Fire extinguishers are a huge part of fire safety strategy. The important question isn’t simply: “Do we have extinguishers?” It’s: “Do we have the right extinguishers, in the right locations, for the risks we actually have?”
A campsite, commercial kitchen, workshop, office, and farm may all require different approaches. Extinguishers should be correctly selected, installed, commissioned, maintained and accessible. Francis Fire provides extinguisher installation, servicing, assessment, repairs, and replacement throughout Cheshire, in accordance with BS 5306-3 and BS 5306-8.
Heatwave Fire Safety Checklist
Before the next hot spell, walk around your premises and ask:
- Is dry grass or vegetation creating an additional fire risk?
- Are combustible materials stored safely?
- Are bins and waste away from buildings where appropriate?
- Are smoking areas safe?
- Are BBQs properly controlled?
- Are LPG cylinders stored appropriately?
- Are temporary event arrangements covered?
- Can emergency vehicles access the site?
- Are fire extinguishers appropriate and accessible?
- Have staff received appropriate fire safety information and training?
- Does the latest fire risk assessment still reflect the actual risks?
Whether you’re here in Cheshire or beyond, protect your business. Extreme weather can change the risks you need to manage. A few hours spent reviewing your premises, could identify problems before they become an emergency. To ensure your business has the right fire extinguishers or whether your existing equipment needs servicing, replacement or upgrading, Francis Fire can help.
We provide expert – and friendly – fire extinguisher installation, servicing, assessment, repairs, and replacement throughout Cheshire, including Macclesfield, Nantwich, Chester, Warrington, and surrounding areas.
