With temperatures already high and set to soar over the next few days, a local swimming instructor has brought to light how important it is to extinguish a camp fire safely.

Sue Christopher, of Wild Swim Wales, told a cautionary tale as she recounted her team’s experiences of the night of August 9:

“We love a camp fire on the beach at sunset. But we always have means to put it safely out and leave it cool. We always build it in a safe space, and take wind strength and direction into account.

“Last night we had to clear up after a very irresponsible group left a fire burning on the beach. They had built their fire on the pebbles - which hold the heat for many hours afterwards.

“They didn’t bother to try to put it out properly; just one trip to the rock pool with nowhere near enough water.

“As they left, the fire was temporarily out, but soon after they’d gone, it burst back into flame.

“They thought covering it with more rocks and pebbles would kill the flames. It didn’t. What it did do was insulate the hot rocks beneath and created an oven that would remain hot enough to burn all night and way into the afternoon... on a day forecast to be hot, in the summer holidays when the beach would be busy from 7am right through til sunset the next day.

“It took four full big trugs of water to douse the fire and several burnt fingers and shoes to kick all the rocks away from the centre to leave it safe.

“That’s 120 litres of water!”

Sue pointed out that the next day (August 10), the beach would be full of early dog walkers and families setting up for the day.

“What a horrible accident that could have been,” she said, and gave the following safety advice:

If you’re going to have a fire on the beach, or a barbecue...

  • Build it on sand. Away from dry grass, or anything flammable.
  • Make sure you have something to put it out properly. If this means 10 trips to the water, so be it.
  • Never bury it or cover it - it will hold its heat overnight and well into the next day.
  • Take anything that isn’t organic home with you.

“If you can’t do this - please don’t have a fire,” added Sue. “Or join our sessions and we’ll do all the hard work for you!”