During periods of hot weather across South Wales, we urge members of the public to act responsibly.
Extreme temperatures present an array of challenges for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and our communities are advised to think twice before doing anything which involves a naked flame or open water.
Dry, warm weather conditions mean a high risk of accidental fires and wildfires, so we advise:
- If outdoors – there is a high risk of accidental fires from barbecues (visit our barbeque advice), lit cigarettes, glass bottles and the like, so please discard these materials responsibly.
- Do not burn any waste, for example refuse or garden waste – please use local authority waste collection, recycling and composting services instead.
- As well as helping to keep your house cooler, we recommend turning off electrical appliances which are not in use, to prevent any electrics overheating. Our advice is always to never overload sockets, through keeping to one plug per socket.
- If you see a fire or anyone starting one, please call 999 so that it can be tackled as soon as possible.
Please bear in mind that South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is:
- unable to provide grass cutting services/maintenance
- unable to fill swimming pools
- discouraging controlled burns.
Respect the water, if trying to cool off around waterways:
- Water can still be cold in summertime, so beware of cold water shock.
- Water levels can be lower due to sustained dry spells, so don’t dive into unfamiliar water.
- Reservoirs and quarries are usually not safe places to swim, unless authorised. Visit Welsh Water’s guidance on reservoirs
- If in danger, float to live, don’t enter the water to rescue someone or a pet – call 999 immediately if there is danger to life.
- In the event of danger in the water, if inland – ask for the fire service. At the coast – ask for the coastguard.
- For more water safety information, visit our water safety webpage.
If you live close to areas that are at risk of wildfires:
To reduce the impact of the adverse heat:
