Fire risk in the forest

 

The fire risk for today is MEDIUM.  All visitors to the forest are asked to take extra care if using BBQ's.

For further information about fire safety in the countryside visit the Hampshire Fire and Rescue website or click here to find out about how to keep safe.

Click here for more information about where to BBQ safely in the forest.  

Portable Ashtrays The Forestry Commission, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the National Park Authority and Forest Holidays have come up with an ingenious solution for folk smoking outside and seeking somewhere safe to stow their cigarette butts.

Small re-usable and recyclable ‘pouches’ will be handed out free to people in the New Forest. Each cardboard box has five tubes inside designed to snuff out a lit cigarette end as soon as it is slipped in. When the embers die the packet can be put safely in a pocket for use later on.

Forest resident Daniel Stevens, said: “Using one of these little pouches means you’re never going to get pinched for littering and you’ll never accidentally start a forest fire .”

Firefighters will be helping the rangers out by visiting forest campsites to hand out the free pouches to holiday makers and give advice on safety in the forest. The aim is to offer them to as many smokers as possible when the weather heats up and the fire hazard is at its height during the dry summer months. The portable ashtrays can be obtained from the Forestry Commission Office in Lyndhurst or the Forestry Commission and National Park Authority Rangers.
Anyone wanting to know more about the project should contact Jim Green at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service on rural.safety@hantsfire.gov.uk