Dorset still under Amber alert for Wildfires
Wildfire could spread quickly and easily due to dry conditions
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are reminding us that the county is still under an Amber Alert for wildfires, ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
This alert means that, should a wildfire start, it could spread quickly and easily due to the dry and windy conditions.
As seen with the major incident at Wareham Forest in 2020, wildfires take a great deal of resources and time to bring under control, and cause devastation to heath, woodland and wildlife.
Dorset has seen a spate of health fires since last weekend with the largest being at Canford Heath.
Group Manager Graham Kewley said:
"This time of year is always problematic for heath fires. The early part of the season is always unseasonably warm and dry which often catches people out. This is now the fifth heath fire that we have seen in our local area over the last few days. Inevitably, there is a potential correlation between the Easter holidays that have just occurred and the fact that there will be more people using the recreational areas in heath. This increases the footfall of fires across heathland areas.
"Our key message is being careful on the heath and making sure that when you are using the area for recreational purposes, we would much rather see people taking a picnic with them rather than seeing them utilising BBQ's. We also want people to be careful with any smoking flames."
Top tips for fire safety:
-Don’t have barbecues or campfires on the heath or in open spaces; the risk of a fire starting is too great.
-Extinguish cigarettes properly, don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
-If you see a fire in the countryside, call 999 and report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Please provide as much detail as possible about location and access, but also make sure you are in a safe place.
-Landowners and land managers are advised to be prepared for fires, where possible, and ensure that fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with any cut grasses and vegetation removed from the site.
-If you’re having a bonfire at home, have a garden hose to hand in case it starts to get out of control, and never use petrol or another accelerant to get it started.
-Barbecue coals stay hot for hours, so douse them with water and don’t dispose of them in a plastic wheelie bin until you can be absolutely sure they are cold.
To find out more on how to stay safe from fire but still enjoy going outdoors, visit: www.dwfire.org.uk/safety-outdoors