Moray firefighters to highlight fire safety at Roseisle Forest event
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FIREFIGHTERS from Elgin, Buckie and Lossiemouth will team up with officers from Forestry and Land Scotland and Police Scotland at Roseisle Forest this weekend to offer fire safety advice for a growing number of visitors.
Members of the public will be reminded of the dangers of barbecues and camp fires at local beauty spots during an Outdoor Fire Safety event this Saturday, June 19.
Fire appliances and other specialist vehicles and equipment, including an all-terrain vehicle and water carrier, will be on show between 10am to 3pm and visitors can learn how to stay safe and enjoy the outdoors this summer.
Watch Commander Gareth Luce, from Elgin Fire Station, said: "Visitor numbers are picking up here, and at other popular local destinations, as restrictions continue to ease, and we want people to have an enjoyable and safe experience outdoors.
"We are asking visitors to make sure campfires and barbecues are lit in a fire-safe pit or container, are always attended, and are fully extinguished before leaving.
"Smokers are reminded to extinguish cigarettes and dispose of them.
"Just one ember can start a fire which has the potential to burn for days and can be devastating for communities, wildlife and farmland and, at the same time, places a strain on emergency services.
"Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a fire starting, and we are asking visitors to this forest and the others across Moray to always follow on-site signage, to act safely and responsibly in the outdoors, and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code."
Fiona Robertson, area visitor services manager at Forestry and Land Scotland, said: "Moray has a wealth of forests to enjoy and at a time when lots of people are having a staycation we want these forests to remain safe and be enjoyed by all.
"But we share the same safety concerns as our colleagues in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and encourage visitors to heed their advice. We want people to enjoy our beauty spots by acting responsibly and avoiding unnecessary risks."
More information on fire safety and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code is available here.
