Fire service urges against use of BBQs and bonfires

A fire service is urging people to not have barbeques or bonfires amid an extreme weather warning for wildfires.

It comes after more than 60 firefighters tackled a large heathland fire at Blackwater in Hampshire, near Camberley in Surrey, on Saturday.

Firefighters used hose reels and specialist wildfire equipment to bring it under control.

Matt Rowe, group manager for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, said the "number one cause" of recent wildfires the service has tackled had been the "careless extinguishment of a cigarette or a barbeque".

Fire services across the south of England previously warned that a few days of hot weather "greatly increased" the risk of wildfires as the country experienced its third heatwave of 2026.

Rowe said there were a number of firefighters who stayed at the blaze in at Blackwater for about 36 hours.

"It was about eight hectares of very rough terrain, mainly gorse, and it was actually backed onto a quarry, so we had very difficult access, which made the firefighting conditions very difficult," he said.

He said the fire service attended many incidents over the weekend that started with bonfires and barbecues.

"Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, alongside their partners, are very busy at this time of the year," said.

"We are currently under an extreme weather warning for wildfires and that's in particular with this very strong wind that we've got over the last couple of days.

"We recommend people not to have bonfires at home, and if you are going to have a barbeque, make sure you've got some water available, and if you are going out for the day, take a picnic, and not a barbeque."