Wildfires warning for Cornwall as extreme heat alerts come into force
The Countryside Alliance says high temperatures are leaving grass and vegetation bone dry
Last updated 18th Jul 2022
A warning is going out to Cornwall about the risk of wildfires, as two extreme heat warnings come into force.
The Countryside Alliance says high temperatures are leaving grass and vegetation bone dry, which means blazes could easily break out and devastate farmland, wildlife or protected habitats.
In the Duchy this weekend, firefighters were called to five fires involving fields, hay, hedges and areas of gorse.
The largest of those was at Ashton near Helston on Sunday, where flames from a field blaze spread to an adjacent field and hedge and scrambled crews from St Ives, Helston, Penzance and Mullion.
At the time, Kernow Weather Team said the current risk of wildfires in Cornwall, was 'High' to 'Very High'.
On 10th July, 20 firefighters spent several hours tackling two wildfires in an Essex woodland that covered about two hectares of woodland and shrubland.
Fires and huge plumes of smoke were reported on Salisbury Plain in southern England on Tuesday, while emergency services in Northamptonshire and Warwickshire said they had been called out to grass fires.
These are the first of a series of fires anticipated in the high UK summer temperatures, and they follow the blazes put out by over 3,000 firefighters in Portugal at the weekend as the country was hit by the extreme weather the UK now experiences.
Multiple early gorse fires also broke out in Northern Ireland across March and April 2022.
Officials say wildfires have the capability to devastate farmland, wildlife and protected habitats, as well as the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
Their ability to start in rural locations, and under difficult conditions, is a threat that rural fire and rescue services have to be prepared for, and successful partnerships and groups have therefore been formed in high risk areas with great success, promoting cooperation and collaboration on wildfire issues.
In this, gamekeepers and moorland managers have a particularly important role, as they are frequently the first to see and report wildfires, and their specialist equipment is invaluable in helping put them out.
Sarah Lee, Head of Policy of the Countryside Alliance said: "Wildfires can have a devastating impact on farming, local communities, wildlife, and protected habitats.
"Remaining vigilant and cautious during this hot weather, as well as increasing awareness amongst those that want to enjoy our beautiful countryside is key to reducing risk.”
By following these measures when in the countryside you can help to prevent wildfires:
• Do not discard cigarettes.
• Please do not start fires or use BBQs as they frequently cause wildfires.
• Dispose of all litter appropriately.
• Do not release sky lanterns. Once released, there is no control over where they end up.
• If anyone finds themselves in a position where they encounter a wildfire that they are unable to bring under control safely, move to a safe location up wind and call the emergency service on 999 immediately, giving an accurate location of the fire.