Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Urgent warning to public over countryside fires
RURAL leaders in the South West are calling on the public to take extra care in the countryside amid the increasing risk of wildfires.
The warning from the Country Land & Business Association comes as dry and windy conditions increase the risk of fire across large areas of the country, especially on hillsides, moors and heathland.
Firefighters in the South West have recently battled a series of unexpected wildfires on Exmoor, Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor, often in hard-to-reach locations. Earlier this month, more than 120 acres of the Bartinney Nature Reserve in St Just were destroyed by a gorse fire, with many animals believed to have been killed.
Last year a massive blaze in Wareham Forest in Dorset in May saw nearly 500 acres of forest devastated by a fire believed to have been started by carelessly discarded disposable barbecues.
More than 70 firefighters tackled that blaze and Forestry England fears that the forest could take decades to fully recover.
The CLA, which represents 5,000 landowners, farmers and rural businesses in the South West and 28,000 nationally, said in addition to the dry weather conditions, the possibility of more people heading to the countryside following the Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions could heighten the risk of fires.
Ann Maidment, director of the CLA in the South West, said: “Wildfires have the capability to devastate farmland, wildlife and their habitats and also pose a risk to the lives of people living and working in rural and adjacent communities. Reducing the risk of wildfires is key at this time of the year, and raising awareness is one way in which the risk can be reduced.
“Wildfires can be prevented by not discarding cigarettes or other smouldering material. The same can be said for litter, as quite often bottles and shards of glass can spark a fire.”
There is also an increased fire risk associated with the use of disposable barbecues, Ms Maidment added. The CLA advises that barbecues should only take place in “sheltered areas well away from combustible material”, and properly extinguished afterwards, while heeding Government guidance on social distancing and gatherings.
She added: “Large wildfires are thankfully rare, but when they do occur they can be very serious, affecting large areas of the countryside, and can cause untold damage to wildlife, destroying ecosystems in a matter of hours which have taken years to establish. We appeal to the public to be extra-vigilant when visiting the countryside. Do not throw lit cigarette ends out of your vehicle and, if you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately.
“It only takes a small spark to start a fire on ground as dry as it is currently, so extra caution must be taken to help protect crops, wildlife and habitats.”
If a fire breaks out, people are advised not to try to tackle it themselves, but to alert the emergency services by calling 999.
The CLA is also urging members of the public to adhere to the recently refreshed Countryside Code. It provides advice about how to enjoy the countryside safely and responsibly. Changes were made to the 70-year-old guide to ensure it was more engaging following an increase in the number of visitors to the countryside since Covid-19 struck.