Rubbish and refuse
Rubbish and refuse fires are common and dangerous. Simple actions can reduce the likelihood of outdoor fires.
Rubbish and Refuse Fires
Around 50% of outdoor fires we respond to each year involve rubbish or fly-tipped materials. That's approximately 11,000 fires.
You can take some very simple steps to help us reduce the risk and frequency of refuse fires. These are:
- storing your rubbish in a secure area.
- keeping your garage and shed locked as well as your home.
- keeping all flammable liquids locked away.
- being alert to strangers loitering in your street.
- reporting any build-up of rubbish to your local authority or community fire station.
- reporting any fly-tipping direct to your local authority.
Don't
- allow rubbish to block escape routes.
- store rubbish by doors, windows or other openings.
- store bins or sacks up against your home.
- overfill your bin or leave rubbish around it.
- smoke in or around storage areas.
- fly-tip materials or leave rubbish to build up outdoors.