Fresh fire warning on North York Moors
Rangers say the ground is tinder dry after weeks without rain
Ahead of another hot weekend rangers on the North York Moors are warning wildfires could pose a threat to animals and the landscape.
They've put out a fire alert and are asking people not to light fires and have barbecues there.
Malcom Hodgson is a national trail officer and is asking people not to bring barbecues or start fires: "We are looking ahead, it's staying dry, it's going to get hotter, so people will be tempted but we are saying please don't, it's far too risky. It can appear that the BBQ is out, that heat is inside the BBQ, and it looks ok, and it can flare up in an hour or two hours, or even longer, even overnight. The message is please just don't do BBQs at all."
"When you think about it, it's a big open mass of moorland here, it would only take a bit of a breeze and it would rip through the moorland it would be a nightmare. Obviously it is a concern."
"While the term ‘wildfire’ might lead people to think that these events are natural or spontaneous, it’s the actions of people that pose the greatest risks.
“Prolonged dry weather creates the right environment for fire to spread quickly and out of control, but the initial spark is nearly always due to human behaviour.
“Wildfires are a complete disaster for our very special habitats. It is devastating to see the damage they cause. Peatland fires are also extremely difficult to extinguish and release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.”
People visiting the North York Moors are asked to be vigilant to the risks. Under no circumstance should anyone be using barbeques or lighting campfires, and great care should be taken when disposing of items such as cigarettes or glass bottles. This includes throwing cigarette ends out of car windows, which can lead to roadside fires that spread into sensitive landscapes."