Firefighters are warning people not to take part in a dangerous social media trend involving setting fire to aerosol cans after a deliberate blaze at Horsham Skate Park.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said crews were called to the skate park last week after a member of the public reported a smell of burning.
Firefighters from Horsham Fire Station found refuse, wood and aerosol cans had been deliberately set alight.
The fire was small and was quickly extinguished, but the service said the incident could have developed into a much more serious blaze because of the prolonged dry weather.
Fire and rescue services across England and Wales are currently experiencing their busiest year on record for wildfires.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service says it has attended 123 deliberately started fires since the beginning of June, a 38% increase compared with the same period last year.
Ian James, Station Manager at Horsham Fire Station, 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 fire service is also reminding people to take precautions to reduce the risk of accidental fires during the summer.
Residents are being advised to fully extinguish cigarettes and dispose of them responsibly, keep barbecues well away from trees, shrubs, fences and sheds, and place them on a stable, flat surface.
People are also advised to keep a bucket of water or sand nearby when using a barbecue, keep glass bottles, mirrors and other reflective objects out of direct sunlight, and take litter home for proper disposal.
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