Ban disposable BBQs permanently, Devon firefighter says

Donovan added: “It’s not just when we have them on the moorland sites, but also on beaches where they are discarded into bins, then the bins catch fire.

“In some cases if they are in close proximity to buildings, then we see a building fire.”

The fire service said crews also had to extinguish out out of control bonfires and blazes started by discarded cigarettes on roads.

Donovan said the presence of Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks were risk factors and “an awful lot of rain” would be needed to change the dry landscape.

“We’ve been extremely busy for some time now with a range of fires,” he said.

“There is a lot of messaging on the ground, it tells people no open fires, no disposable barbecues and no camping stoves.

“Be careful about how you discard cigarettes, especially when we’ve seen recent signs of people throwing them out the window and the verges catching fire.

“Enjoy the landscape, respect it and take a picnic.”

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