New safety campaign targets Shropshire bin fires

Shropshire householders are being urged to take action to stop their wheelie bin going up in flames and putting their home at risk from fire.

As part of a new safety campaign, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has produced a short film re-enacting the dangers posed by a blazing bin. It will be shown in schools in the county, with the information expected to be passed on to parents, friends and families, said John Das Gupta, the service's head of fire prevention.

There have been 290 reported bin fires in Shropshire since April 2009, with 14 causing a real threat to nearby homes and businesses.

"Our community fire safety department identified that bin fires are a problem and took the video footage themselves to graphically show just how quickly a wheelie bin sets on fire when it is deliberately set alight," said Mr Das Gupta.

"This is a problem we repeatedly get called out to deal with and one which can pose a significant risk as fire spreads rapidly, and if the bin is located close to their property, people could potentially be trapped inside their house.

"Wheelie bins are an available source of flammable materials which arsonists take advantage of. Don't give them the opportunity."

Residents are urged to site their wheelie bin away from property if possible and only put it out in the street just before the arrival of the bin collectors.

Last year a wheelie bin was deliberately placed next to a gas pipe before being set on fire on a Telford housing estate.

The blaze cracked the pipe before leaking gas led to a "potentially lethal" blaze.

In another incident firefighters prevented a number of business properties from going up in flames after arsonists set fire to rubbish in the yard of a Telford business.

It quickly began spreading to neighbouring properties.

Both incidents were just two examples of how rubbish fires were "extremely dangerous", said Derek Taylor, the brigade's fire crime investigation officer.

By Dave Morris