BRITAIN’ S BURNING
Scorching summer sees wildfires spread across the country
AS the sizzling summer continued to bake Britain yesterday, a new wave of wildfires sparked across much of the country.
Firemen worked under ‘ tremendous pressure’ to tackle blazes in the North West, the West, Wales, the Midlands and parts of southern and eastern England.
Forecasters warned winds could exacerbate the fires as light showers miss the places most in need of them.
Temperatures are set to soar further this week as the heatwave shows no sign of abating. Highs above 30C (86F) are possible tomorrow in the South.
In Staffordshire yesterday, firefighters battled to bring fastspreading flames under control in woodland less than two miles from Alton Towers.
Elsewhere, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said about 30 homes in Bethesda were evacuated yesterday morning due to a nearby forest fire.
On Monday night, 15 homes were evacuated as crews tackled a gorse fire near Caernarfon. More than 40 firefighters were required to bring the blaze under control overnight. Senior firefighter Karen Roberts warned the flames could quickly spread out of control and that they are placing ‘tremendous pressure’ on the service’s resources.
This week, wildfires also reached as far south as Buckinghamshire, taking an army of firefighters to extinguish the 50ft flames.
Around 20 engines were called to the dry Pump Lane South grassland in a Little Marlow field at 4:30pm on Monday.
It took around 100 firemen to battle a large blaze that destroyed a 500 square metre field – before ‘spreading faster than you can run’ and tearing through industrial units, operation chiefs said.
Striking drone footage shows thick clouds of smoke filling the sky and an expanse of golden corn and grassland burnt black.An inferno also broke out on the Malvern Hills – which was started by someone using a disposable barbecue.
Dramatic pictures show the blaze engulfing arid grassland in a field, whipped up by high winds.
As yesterday progressedT, further fires were reported in Thetford Forest Park near Mildenhall, Suffolk, and close to Holyport in Berkshire. A crop blaze also started in Hengrave, Suffolk, and grass caught alight at Bawsey Pits, Norfolk.
Firefighters were also still tackling the moorland blaze on Winter Hill, near Bolton, with around 30 fire engines battling the flames for the fifth day running.
On Saddleworth Moor, a large area of moorland was also still smouldering, with soldiers stepping in to assist emergency workers. Downing Street yesterday said military support for Greater Manchester fire service will be extended for another three days, until 5pm on Friday.
Reacting to the blazes, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said the hot weather had created ‘tinderbox conditions across the nation’, warning that fire services were concerned at a ‘lack of resources’ at their disposal. He said some firefighters were working 17-hour days.
The mercury soared to 30.7C (87.2F) in Rostherne in Cheshire yesterday, beating Monday’s high of 30.1C (86.1F) in London, the Met Office said.
Public Health England (PHE) also issued a warning saying the extreme heat may pose a risk to the most vulnerable.
Dr Thomas Waite, of PHE, said: ‘It’s vitally important that we keep an eye on friends, family and neighbours who may be at risk,’
Network Rail’s extreme weather action teams are being activated across the country to monitor ‘vulnerable locations’.
Surrey Police repeated warnings about the dangers of swimming in open water after the body of a man was recovered from a lake in Nutfield on Monday.
‘Spreads faster than you can run’
‘Tinderbox conditions’