Holidaymakers urged to help prevent wildfires during Essex getaways
With summer here, more people head to Essex's holiday and caravan parks, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is asking holidaymakers to do their part in helping prevent wildfires.
The appeal follows a visit by ECFRS Rural Fire Safety Officer, Ollie Everett, to Haven holiday park, The Orchards in Clacton. The park’s owners requested fire safety advice after experiencing several bush fires on-site and were keen to understand how to better protect their guests, staff and the surrounding environment.
Roger Olive, Park Safety Advisor at The Orchards said: “We take the safety of our customers, residents and staff very seriously. With the weather getting hotter, we’re keen to know exactly what else we should be doing to protect them and prevent fires starting.”
There are over 50 holiday and caravan parks across Essex, many of which are surrounded by dry grass, woodland, and open countryside, all of which can catch fire easily in hot, dry conditions.
That’s why the fire service is urging visitors to help prevent wildfires by following a few simple steps during their stay:
- Never use disposable BBQs in open countryside or near grassland
- Always dispose of cigarettes properly – never throw them on the ground
- Avoid lighting open fires, campfires or candles near tents or dry grass
- Download the what3words app to help emergency services locate you quickly if you need to call 999
Ollie Everett, ECFRS’s Rural Fire Safety Officer, said: “It only takes a spark to start a fire when the ground is dry, especially in holiday parks where people are enjoying the outdoors. We’re asking visitors to stay alert, be considerate, and help us protect Essex’s countryside and communities.”
To find out more about staying safe on holiday and what to do in the event of a fire, visit:
👉 www.essex-fire.gov.uk/camping-and-caravanning
If you're a holiday park owner or have a similar rural business and need advice, visit:
👉 www.essex-fire.gov.uk/rural-and-farm-fire-safety
Rural Fire Safety Officer, Ollie, visits holiday park in Clacton
Oliver Everott is our Rural Engagement Officer.
Ollie comes from a farming background so has lots of knowledge of the farming industry. Ollie grew up on a dairy farm and has worked as a gamekeeper, deer keeper and a farm manager in charge of livestock and arable farms.
Before this role, Ollie worked in our Protection team, visiting commercial businesses giving fire safety advice.
- To contact Ollie, call 07500105715 or email oliver.everott@essex-fire.gov.uk