Firefighters have dealt with more than 400 fires in the open in the first five months of 2021 – with numbers expected to rise as the weather warms up.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) has already responded to 427 grassland, woodland and crop fires between January and May.
Act with care
As lockdown measures ease further, and with the promise of sunnier days ahead, HIWFRS is now urging people to act with care when enjoying our countryside.
With drier, warmer weather comes an increased risk of wildfires, which can cause devastation to natural habitats and take significant fire service resources to tackle.
But by following some simple safety steps – and reporting incidents quickly – the public can help reduce the damage fires in the open can cause.
Hodges: Really important that everyone plays their part
Station Manager Dean Hodges, HIWFRS’ wildfire lead, said,
“The number of incidents we have already dealt with this year is concerning. Although we all hope for warmer weather over the next few months, drier conditions increase the risk of incidents like these becoming wildfires.
“These fires can spread quickly and cause a massive amount of damage, so it’s really important that everyone plays their part by helping us look after our countryside.
“When the conditions are hot and dry, think twice about lighting barbecues and campfires. Always dispose of these items carefully and make sure barbecue coals have cooled down completely.
“The New Forest is now a no barbecue and fire zone and we urge people to follow those rules.”
Incidents of note:
- 5th April: 13:48: A fire engine and a water carrier from Freshwater, Isle of Wight, were called to deal with an unattended bonfire that had spread to a hedgerow and caused superficial smoke damage to an outbuilding in Uplands Road, Totland. Crews spent almost an hour at the scene using two jets to put the fire out.
- 20th April, 17:39: Tadley firefighters were mobilised to a large gorse fire in Wigmore Road, and due to a large smoke plume and a high number of calls into the HIWFRS control room, a second appliance from Basingstoke attended. Approximately one hectare of gorse and tree scrub were involved in the blaze. Whilst damping down, crews discovered a bird’s nest full of young chicks which had sadly died in the blaze – showing the devastation these incidents can cause.
- 27th April, 14:16: Crews from Bordon, Rushmoor and Cosham were called to a large fire in the open in heathland adjacent to Rushmoor Road, Bordon. Two seats of fire – approximately 200m x 50m and 40m x 20m – were extinguished using two jets and six hose reels. Stop message 16:41.
Careless use of barbecues and campfires often to blame
SM Hodges added,
“Due to the nature of these fires it is sometimes hard to pinpoint exact causes, but we know that careless use of barbecues and campfires are often to blame, along with discarded cigarettes.
“If you see a fire in the open, please act quickly and call 999 to report it because every second really does count.”
Top tips
- Download the What3Words app on your smartphone and use it to help us locate fires quicker
- If you see a fire, get to safety, call 999 and try and give us an approximate size and idea of whether it’s grass, heathland, woodland etc
- Dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials properly
- Allow barbecue coals to cool down fully before disposing of these items
- Barbecuing on grass? Use bricks to lift your barbecue off the ground
- Never leave campfires or barbecues unattended
- Look out for amber and red warnings – don’t light fires when these are in place because it means there is an increased risk of wildfires
For more information: In the countryside – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Official website of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (hantsfire.gov.uk)
News shared by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, in their own words. Ed
