Fire Service raise awareness of wildfires in Surrey
This week, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service have been travelling across Surrey, to inform local people about the risk of wildfires.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service have been raising awareness of wildfires this week.
Alongside the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership, the service have been setting up at local commons, to speak to local people about why it's important to be aware of the fires.
Over the last few days, they've visited Wildmoor Heath, Horsell Common and Whitmoor Common. They're scheduled to visit Lightwater Country Park tomorrow.
**"I think it's important to raise awareness."**
They are informing people about the dangers of wildfire and how they can be prevented. There's also a poster competition and an opportunity to try some of the fire kit on for children.
It's also an opportunity for people to meet members of the Fire and Rescue Service, and to see some of the vehicles, if they're not out on call.
Wildfires hit Surrey last year, with lots of land being affected. This included a major fire at Hankley Common last July, which destroyed around four hectares of land.
Marli Holland, the rural affairs officer for the Fire and Rescue Service, said that: "We started this on Saturday, and we are attending different commons throughout Surrey and Berkshire, to raise the awareness of risks of wildfires and how they can be prevented.
Marli also explained what some of the main causes of wildfires are.
"The main causes being campfires, disposable barbecues, cigarettes, litter. If all of those things can be reduced than the risk can be reduced, and it's important that they are acknowledged."
"We do have quite a lot of open areas, wooded areas, and things like that. With the summers the last year, the wildfires were pretty intense so I think it's important to raise awareness, reassure the public that we are and ways that they can help us out as well."