Firefighters warn against lighting aerosol cans on fire

Firefighters from Horsham Fire Station attended a fire at Horsham Skate Park on August 20, where refuse, wood, and aerosol cans had been deliberately set alight.

While the fire was quickly extinguished, crews say it could have spread out of control due to the dry conditions.

Ian James, station manager at Horsham, said: "Setting fire to aerosol cans is extremely dangerous and can have serious consequences.

"When exposed to heat, aerosol cans can explode without warning, causing injuries to anyone nearby and increasing the risk of a fire spreading rapidly.

"While this incident was brought under control quickly, the outcome could have been very different.

"With vegetation and open spaces extremely dry, it only takes one small ember to put lives, property and the environment at risk.

"We would urge parents and carers to speak to young people about the dangers of copying trends they see online, and we ask everyone to act responsibly and help us prevent unnecessary fires in our communities."

The warning comes amid a rise in deliberate fires across West Sussex.

Since the beginning of June, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has responded to 123 deliberately started fires - a 38 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Fire and rescue services across England and Wales are also experiencing the busiest year on record for wildfires.

West Sussex crews are urging the public to help reduce the risk of further incidents by taking simple precautions.

These include fully extinguishing cigarettes, keeping barbecues away from flammable materials, and storing glass bottles or reflective items out of direct sunlight.

Residents are also reminded to take litter home and dispose of waste responsibly to prevent accidental fires.