BBQs banned from Canoe Lake and areas around Southsea Common due to 'wildfire risk'

Disposable BBQs and other potential fire hazards have been temporarily banned from parts of Southsea.

Portsmouth City Council issued a statement on its website that a temporary prohibition on barbecues has been implemented due to the risk of wildfires. Equipment involving naked flames has been banned from Canoe Lake Park and land surrounding Southsea Common.

This includes bounded by Clarence Esplanade, Clarence Parade, Avenue de Caen and Serpentine Road. “These locations have been identified as particularly vulnerable to fire because of current ground and environmental conditions,” the local authority said.

“As the owner of the land, Portsmouth City Council has introduced this temporary prohibition to help reduce the risk of fire while allowing both sites to remain open for recreation and public enjoyment. Council staff, seafront rangers and community wardens will be monitoring these areas. Anyone using a barbecue or other outdoor cooking equipment involving a naked flame may be asked to extinguish it and remove it from the site.”

Items covered by the ban include disposable barbecues, reusable barbecues, gas canisters and gas stoves, charcoal and coal barbecues, fire pits, campfires, and any other naked flame device. Councillor Lee Hunt, cabinet member for community safety, leisure and sport, said: “Public safety is our primary concern.

“The exceptionally dry conditions mean that Canoe Lake and the land west of Avenue de Caen are particularly vulnerable to fire. Even a small spark or hot coal can quickly spread through dry grass and vegetation. We're asking people to help keep everyone safe and protect trees, wildlife and property by choosing a picnic instead of a barbecue and following Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service's safety advice."

The fire service is encouraging people visiting outdoor spaces to take a picnic and leave BBQs at home, and to follow outdoor safety guidance. “Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has warned that the wildfire risk remains extremely high and that many outdoor fires are preventable,” the council statement added.

“Recent hot and dry weather has left grass, vegetation, leaf litter and trees exceptionally dry. These conditions significantly increase the risk of fire.”

The prohibition is a temporary measure and will be reviewed ever 14 days. Temporary signage will alert residents, as well as updates on the council’s website and social media.

Prime minister Andy Burnham has recently urged retailers to withdraw disposable barbecues from sale in an effort to prevent wildfires as the heatwave continues. This comes after he chaired an emergency Cobra meeting in response to the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.

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Around 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the same as last year’s record-breaking total. Most major UK supermarkets have suspended sales of disposable barbecues in recent weeks in line with voluntary guidance from the NFCC.

Mr Burnham urged all shops to stop selling them and indicated that an outright ban could be considered in future summers. He said: “The big risk in terms of risk to the wider regions across the country is the risk of wildfires. What we are seeing is multiple serious incidents across the country.

“Fire services, by and large, are supporting each other through mutual aid to deal with those incidents but we are keeping a very close watching brief on them. There is advice to the public here not to use disposable barbecues. We have today confirmed through the National Fire Chiefs Council that the framework restricting the retail sale of those disposable barbecues is being extended.

“Now I would ask all retailers big and small to adhere to that framework. Longer term we will look at whether a temporary ban in the summer months is justified.”