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Recycle glass bottles to avoid starting blazes, say fire chiefs

Recycle glass bottles to avoid starting blazes, say fire chiefs

Telegraph16-06-2025
Glass bottles should be put in the recycling and not left as litter in order to prevent blazes breaking out, fire chiefs have said.
With temperatures forecast to reach more than 30C later this week, the Met Office is expecting it to be the first official heatwave of the year at the weekend.
A heatwave must see three consecutive days of more than a threshold temperature, which ranges from 25C for Scotland and Northern Ireland to 28C for London and the home counties.
Meteorologists expect soaring temperatures from Thursday onwards, resulting in the hottest days of the year, with fire chiefs warning that dry conditions would increase the risk of fires.
Advice on how to enjoy the weather safely includes ensuring that all glass bottles are disposed of appropriately, avoiding using disposable barbecues directly on grass, putting cigarette ends into bins and creating 'fire breaks' of ploughed ground to ensure that built-up areas are protected.
'Prevention is everyone's responsibility'
Charlie Pugsley, of the London Fire Brigade, said : 'Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire and, particularly when that grass is tinder dry, the spread of fire can be rapid.
'The rapid spread can be particularly worrying if it is in the direction of homes and livelihoods, so it is vital we all do what we can to protect those areas ahead of periods of hot and dry weather.'
James St John Davis, the chairman of the City of London Corporation's Natural Environment Board, said: 'Prevention is everyone's responsibility – even a single glass bottle or cigarette butt can spark a serious blaze. Our teams are proud to work with the London Fire Brigade to help protect people, property, and precious habitats.'
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency issued a yellow heat health warning, the first of the year, in response to warm weather.
Warmth of this level is of no concern to the majority of the population, but officials warned that it could pose a threat to the elderly and vulnerable. No such alert has been issued for the weekend ahead at this point, but may come in the next few days.
'Several places could exceed 30C'
Tony Wisson, a deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'Over the next few days, settled weather and warm sunshine will allow temperatures to rise day on day.
'Temperatures will then rise further towards the end of the week as winds turn more southerly and even warmer air over continental Europe will be drawn across the UK.
'We could very well see several places exceeding 30C, which will be the highest temperatures of the year so far.'
The public has also been warned that pollen levels are very high. Hay fever sufferers, especially those with an allergy to grass pollen, have been advised to take precautions to ensure they are not overwhelmed with high and very high levels this week.
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