'Discarded' smoking materials causes fire at the Bridge Tavern in Old Portsmouth
Fire started in the pub garden
The fire service have confirmed that a blaze in a pub garden was likely started by ‘discarded’ smoking materials.
The Bridge Tavern in Old Portsmouth was the scene of the fire at around 5am on Saturday, July 11.The fire crews were able to bring it under control before it spread to the pub itself.
A Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to East Street in Portsmouth shortly after 5:00am this morning following reports of a fire in the garden area of a public house. The fire is believed to have been caused by smoking materials discarded on wooden decking. The public house itself was unaffected by the fire.
“Firefighters used two hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze. The incident was brought under control, with the stop message received A reinspection of the scene was carried out at 10:00am, where no further signs of smoke or fire were detected.”
Following the incident, the fire service are warning people to ensure that they dispose of their cigarettes responsibly.
The spokesperson said: “Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is reminding residents and visitors to dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials safely, particularly during periods of warm, dry weather.
“Discarded cigarettes can remain hot enough to ignite dry grass, wooden decking, and other combustible materials, potentially causing serious fires. By taking a few simple precautions, everyone can help reduce the risk of preventable fires and keep our communities safe.”
The fire service has issued the below advice to help prevent fires:
- Fully extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.
- Use a suitable ashtray or metal bin – never discard cigarettes onto the ground, from vehicles, or into planters.
- Avoid smoking near dry vegetation, wooden decking, or other flammable materials.
- Never leave lit cigarettes unattended.