i was to ask what this was all about...apparently the local police and fire station initiative....they were giving a demonstration around:

"DO NOT THROW WATER UPON YOUR CHIP PAN"

that is what i was told 'very clearly'...after i had asked if there had been an incident or were they going to give a demonstration....

it was all a bit odd....i sensed that there might be a bit more to it than that....but anyway, they appeared to be waiting for somebody or something to turn up...and i didn't want to hang around in the cold to see when they might either 'do it' or do it again....