Summer fire safety tips

General safety

• •  Check in on vulnerable family members, neighbours and friends to see how they’re coping with the heatwave. Make a quick phone call or send a text to check in on them.
• •  Remember some medications need to be kept at a certain temperatures. While it’s not usually a problem it might be during very hot weather.
• •  During the heatwave, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Use high factor sun cream. Try and stay cool and seek shade. Avoid enclosed spaces and wear a hat and loose clothing if you can. If you’re feeling weak, sit down and call for help.
• •  Also remember to look after your pets. Avoid exercising them in very hot weather between 11am and 4pm and make sure they have a shaded area to rest and get plenty of water. Some pets may need sun cream applied especially to their ears.
• •  Keep an eye out for on weather alerts. When a Red Fire Warning is issued this means no open fires or BBQs in forests or high risk areas near populated and urban rural interfaces.
• •  Wildfires can change direction suddenly and the smoke from these gorse fires affects your breathing and ability to see. Avoid roads near wild or gorse fires.
• •  Call 999 or 112 if you see a fire and don’t attempt to fight it.
• •  Check the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine notices for more information on avoiding forest fires.
• •  No matter how hot it gets, don't forget to close your doors before you go to bed to help prevent fire spreading between rooms.
• •  If you’re renting or providing rental accommodation, there are a number of fire safety requirements you need to know about. For more information on fire safety in rented accommodation, visit the Residential Tenancy Board’s website.