Concern over the real risk of a wildfire developing on a stretch of coastline near Ventnor has been raised after 2 separate sections of timber barriers between Bonchurch and Wheelers Bay were found damaged by fire this morning (Tuesday).
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was alerted after the timber sleepers were discovered alight earlier today.
Several other burnt patches nearby suggest similar incidents may have happened previously, prompting concerns the fires may have been started deliberately.
Although the cause has not been established, local residents have also suggested disposable barbecues have recently been placed on the timber sleepers, potentially causing them to smoulder for hours before eventually igniting.
The extent of the charring suggests the timber may have been burning slowly overnight before being discovered this morning.
Whatever the cause, the incidents have renewed concerns about the heightened wildfire risk across the Isle of Wight during the current spell of hot, dry weather.
With vegetation and undergrowth exceptionally dry, even a relatively small fire has the potential to spread rapidly into nearby grassland, scrub and coastal habitats, placing wildlife, property and members of the public at risk.
The concern comes after the recent wildfire at Headon Warren served as a reminder of how quickly fires can take hold in such conditions, requiring a significant emergency response and threatening one of the Isle of Wight’s most environmentally important landscapes.
If you see a fire in the countryside, contact the fire service immediately on 999. Do not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water.
Remember, do not discard cigarettes or other smoking materials in the countryside. It is also important to clear away bottles, glasses and any broken glass to avoid them magnifying the sun and starting a fire.
Always take extra care if using a barbecue and only light fires or BBQs in designated areas. Never leave a campfire or BBQ unattended and extinguish them properly after you have finished using them.
So many numpties in such extreme weather conditions
still throw cigarette butts out of vehicle windows when driving
along or along pavements, look outside the entrance of
Sandown Pier, it is cigarette paradise for the numpties.
Unfortunately you cannot educate the uneducated
Unbelievable, either crass stupidity or intentional further evidence (if needed) of the dumming down of the population, think I’m being harsh? Have you driven lately?