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SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1975
PICNICKERS URGED TO PREVENT FIRES IN COUNTRYSIDE
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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED PICNICKERS TO TAKE EXTRA CARE IN PREVENTING FIRES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
A SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF FIRES HAD BEEN KEPT DOWN FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS BECAUSE OF EXCEPTIONALLY WET CONDITIONS, BUT ADDED: +IT ONLY TAKES A DAY OR TWO OF SUNSHINE TO CHANGE THE PICTURE.+
HE SAID THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT THE CARELESS THROWING AWAY OF LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES WAS A MAJOR CAUSE OF COUNTRYSIDE FIRES, AND PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THESE WERE PROPERLY OUT BEFORE DISPOSAL.
+USE AN ASH DIN,+ HE URGED, OR, IF THERE IS NONE AVAILABLE, GRIND THEM UNDERFOOT.+
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ANOTHER CAUSE OF RURAL FIRES WAS BARBECUES AT UNSUITABLE SITES CLOSE TO FORESTS OR PLANTATIONS. HE APPEALED THAT PICNICKERS SHOULD FIND OUT WHERE THE DESIGNATED BARBECUE PITS WERE AS THE RISK OF FIRES IN THESE AREAS WAS VERY MUCH LOWER THAN IN OTHERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT CONSTANT APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC TO BE CAREFUL IS A WAY TO HELP REDUCE FIRES. DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLICITY HAD BEEN DIRECTED AT CARELESS SMOKERS AND THE NUMBER OF FIRES CAUSED BY CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES DROPPED BY ALMOST 60 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURE.+
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