FIRE chiefs are urging people to enjoy the warm weather safely.
Temperatures are continuing to soar across the county, with people taking advantage by enjoying barbecues, beauty spots or getting their gardens ready for summer.
But Ian Read, head of prevent and protect for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it was important people were aware of the risks.
He said:
“We’re not here to spoil the fun for anyone during the warmer weather, but we want people to make sure they enjoy themselves safely across Staffordshire.
“Warm and dry periods like this greatly increase the risk and severity of outdoor fires.
“Preventing these fires from happening in the first place, or preventing someone from jumping into open water to cool off, could be the difference between life and death.”
The fire service is also calling on parents to speak to young people about the dangers of going into open water.
A spokesperson said:
“While it might be tempting to swim in canals, rivers and lakes to cool off, they can be extremely dangerous as if you get into trouble, there are no lifeguards to help.
“The water is often a lot colder than you expect, there might be hidden currents and it is difficult to estimate how deep water is before you get in.
“If you see another person in trouble in water, do not enter yourself, raise the alarm and throw anything that will float to them.”
