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Enjoy your camping ‘staycation’ safely

Tent

With many camping and caravanning sites now reopened for business, people are being urged to please remember to think fire safety during staycations.

As schools prepare to shut for summer and the UK holiday season starts, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) would like to remind holiday-makers about the steps they can take to enjoy their breaks away safely.

Prevention Team Leader Darren Carson said: “It’s fair to say that, after a tough year, many people will have been looking forward to a well-deserved break and, with more people likely to be opting for staycations this year, it’s so important for us to help get messages out about safe camping and caravanning.

“We want people to take happy memories back from their holidays, so please take time to think about fire safety – whether that is avoiding the use of cooking equipment inside or too close to tents, or taking steps to make sure you know you can escape a tent or caravan quickly in case of fire.”

Fire safety tips

Camping:

  • Never use candles in or near a tent – torches are safer
  • Don’t smoke inside a tent
  • Place cooking well away from your tent
  • Make sure you know what the fire arrangements on the campsite are and where the nearest telephone is
  • Keep your cooking area clear of items that catch fire easily (flammable items), including long, dry grass
  • Put cooking appliances in a place where they can’t easily be knocked over
  • Keep matches, lighters, flammable liquids and gas cylinders out of the reach of children
  • Have an escape plan and be prepared to cut your way out of your tent if there is a fire

Caravans:

  • Having a working smoke alarm in a caravan is as important as having one at home
  • Don’t leave children alone inside a caravan
  • If you smoke, use metal ashtrays and never smoke in bed
  • Don’t block air vets – if any leaking gas builds up, you may fall unconscious and be unable to escape
  • Turn off all appliances before you leave the caravan or go to bed
  • Never use a cooker or heater while your caravan is moving
  • If there’s a fire in your caravan, get everyone out straight away. Call the fire service and give your location with a map reference, if possible, or provide a nearby landmark like a farm.  The What3words app is also a useful tool for pinpointing an exact location

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