Don’t Report Neighbours’ BBQs, Surrey Fire Service Urges
Emergency Lines Being Overwhelmed by Barbecue Reports
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued a direct appeal to residents across our region, asking them to think carefully before dialling 999 to report neighbours enjoying garden barbecues. The service has been inundated with calls about recreational fires that pose no immediate danger, straining resources when genuine emergencies need urgent attention. During the summer months alone, the volume of non-emergency barbecue complaints has reached unprecedented levels, forcing firefighters to spend valuable time responding to situations that don’t warrant emergency services. This is particularly concerning as we face an extended dry spell affecting the entire South East, from Guildford to Woking and beyond. The SFRS spokesperson emphasised that crews simply cannot attend to every report of neighbours having a BBQ or bonfire in their garden. The key distinction fire services are making is clear: unless there’s an actual emergency or a fire producing significant smoke that poses a genuine threat, these calls waste precious resources. Local residents in Dorking, East Horsley, and surrounding areas need to understand that emergency lines must remain available for life-threatening situations where every second counts and professional intervention can save lives and property.
Why This Matters: The Wildfire Risk This Summer
The reality behind this appeal is sobering. Across East Sussex and Surrey, fire services are responding to multiple wildfires monthly, with July alone seeing East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service tackle 12 major wildfires plus 300 additional incidents involving crops, trees and forests. East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service group commander Simon Neill warned that small garden fires can escalate dramatically in current conditions. When everything around us is bone-dry from the prolonged drought, what might normally remain a contained backyard incident can spread with terrifying speed. Fences catch fire because barbecues are positioned too close. Dried vegetation ignites from sparks. What takes seconds to start can take hours to control. The Bluebell Railway, operating its historic steam trains across 11 miles of picturesque Sussex countryside between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead, has suspended steam engine operations entirely until September. Ruth Rowatt, speaking for the railway, explained that lineside fires are routine during normal conditions, but this year’s extreme drought makes even tiny sparks potentially catastrophic. The railway anticipates losing approximately £250,000 during the school holiday period due to service cancellations, demonstrating how widespread fire risk has become and how communities from Horsley to East Grinstead are affected.
What You Should Do Instead: Community Responsibility
Here’s what local residents actually need to know and do. If you’re planning garden work this summer—whether that’s a kitchen renovation project, bathroom refurbishment involving disposal of materials, or any activity involving fire—exercise extreme caution. Check fire safety guidelines before you start. If your neighbour is having a barbecue and it appears genuinely out of control—with uncontrollable flames, significant smoke affecting multiple properties, or fire spreading beyond their garden—then 999 is appropriate. But a neighbour enjoying a reasonable garden barbecue in their own space is not an emergency. Instead of reaching for your phone, community members should focus on fire prevention. Clear dried leaves and debris from gardens. Keep barbecues away from fences and vegetation. Never leave fires unattended. Be aware of burn ban regulations in your area. Report genuine emergencies only. Kent Fire & Rescue Service and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service have both deployed additional resources, including new off-road vehicles with enhanced water capabilities, to handle the increased wildfire demand. These services appreciate public cooperation and responsible behaviour. Contact local authorities about genuine fire hazards—illegal bonfires, abandoned materials creating fire risks, or genuine safety concerns—but reserve 999 for actual emergencies threatening life and property.
Source: South East residents urged not to report neighbours’ barbecue use
