South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue urge people to stop creating deliberate fires due to Wildfire threats

As temperatures rise as we head towards the summer months, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue are issuing pledges to the public to be aware of their surroundings and report any fires as soon as possible to prevent the use of vital resources unnecessarily, that may be needed to tackle wildfires in the area.

The worries follow years of devastation all the way back to 2022 which saw South Yorkshire's worst record for wildfires to date.

7\4 wildfires were recorded in 2022, a record high.

Last year 11 wildfires were recorded, and despite the decline, the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue team want to stress how significant these types of fires are.

Chris Tyler the group manager of the community safety department of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue told us that just one wildfire is a 'big deal in itself'.

He added that there is an extensive criteria for a fire to be deemed a 'wildfire', but all of which highlight its significance,

"For a fire to be deemed a wildfire, it needs to be larger then one hectare or have flames larger then 1.5 metres."

"There has to be four or more fire engines in attendance or have our appliances in attendance for six hours or more, or it presents a significant threat to life, environment or property."

Wildfires therefore require many resources and the fire team are urging people to stop setting off deliberate fires.

In the last calendar year over 4,000 secondary fires were recorded which can take away vital resources from where they need to be,

"If you see anybody setting these sort of deliberate fires..." Chris added, "Whether it's as small as a bin fire or bigger wildfires, please report these to Fire Stoppers immediately."

Since the wildfires of 2022, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has taken precautions to be better prepared including more signage in park and grass areas, and investing in new equipment that can be used across different terrains.