A SPATE of gas cylinder fires has prompted a safety warning from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters have urged those responsible for industrial and agricultural buildings to manage gas cylinders on site properly and safely. It follows a number of fires since the start of the year involving barns and storage sheds that have contained gas cylinders.

Station Manager Graham Kewley, from the DWFRS fire safety team, said: “Cylinders are a common risk at agricultural incidents, and can cause significant issues to firefighters. There have been cases where firefighters have been killed by exploding cylinders, so crews have to maintain a safety cordon to protect life – and this can be up to 200m, potentially affecting other businesses, roads or even railway lines.

“Cylinders should be kept securely and located away from buildings and combustible materials wherever possible. Ideally, unwanted cylinders should be disposed of in a safe manner and businesses should have good housekeeping arrangements so everyone knows what cylinders are on site and where they are located.”

For more safety advice, visit: www.dwfire.org.uk.