The Country Land and Business Association here in the South East is calling on the public to take extra care in the countryside due to the increased fire risk as warm, dry and settled conditions have elevated wildfire conditions.
There have been reports of incidents already across Hampshire, and forecasters say temperatures across much of the region will reach the mid-20s by the weekend.
In recent days fire crews tackled a large wildfire on the Hampshire-Surrey border, affecting 30 acres of land at Frensham Common. Meanwhile, a blaze near Cannich in Scotland last week could be the UK’s biggest wildfire on record, burning through 80 sq km of scrub and woodland.
Wildfires have the capability to devastate farmland, wildlife and also pose a risk to the lives of people living and working in rural and adjacent communities.
Wildfires can be prevented by not discarding cigarettes or other smoldering material. The same can be said for litter as quite often bottles and shards of glass can spark a fire. Some CLA members have highlighted the increased fire risk associated with disposable barbeques that are used in the countryside, urging the visiting public not to barbeque in rural areas.
The CLA has also long called for the ban on sky lanterns as these pose a serious risk of fire, especially in the countryside. At present the Government is unwilling to introduce a ban as they do not consider the dangers significant enough, despite animal deaths and fires as a result of sky lanterns.
Regional Director of the CLA, Tim Bamford, has said:
“Fires have significant impacts, both on communities as well as scarring the landscape and destroying wildlife, and we appeal to the public to be extra vigilant when out and about in the countryside.
“Enjoy rural areas but please take litter home, use common sense and keep an eye out.”
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.
