Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

THE CLA (Country Land and Business Association) is calling on the public to take extra care in the countryside amid the increasing risk of wildfires in the parched landscape.

The warning comes as drier conditions increase the risk of fire across large areas of the country, especially on:- beaches, hillsides, moors, and heathland. Little, if any, rain is forecast over the next 2 weeks. Natural England hosts the Fire Severity Index (previously hosted by the Met Office) indicates a:- 'high risk' for large parts of England. (See this website.)

Already ahead of the Bank Holiday, Sefton Council, Merseyside Police and the National Trust are warning all visitors to the coast not to bring BBQs or to have any form of fires on the beaches, sand dunes or in the pinewoods. If you do and you are spotted, you face prosecution! This comes after some serious incidents over the last few years on the Mersey Coastline.

The CLA, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and rural businesses in the North, have also added that in addition to the dry weather conditions, the possibility of more people heading to the countryside during the much milder weather could heighten the risk of fires.

CLA Director North Harriet Ranson said:- "Wildfires devastate farmland, wildlife and their habitats, also pose a risk to the lives of people living and working in rural communities. Reducing the risk of wildfires is key at this time of the year, and raising awareness is one way in which the risk can be reduced. Landowners and land managers are advised to be prepared for fires, where possible, and ensure that fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with any cut vegetation cleared from the site. Farmers are urged to consider having full water bowsers and disc harrows at the ready. People must not discard cigarettes or other smouldering material on the ground. Discarded glass bottles and other litter can also cause fires to start by magnifying glare. The CLA asks visitors to the countryside not to bring disposable BBQs with them as it is almost impossible to cool them down and take them home afterwards, and they are a known cause of wildlife. 'Disposable' does not mean just leaving them behind. 29,200 hectares of land (292 sq km or 113 sq miles) have been burnt so far this year already, exceeding the previous record of 28,100 hectares in 2019, affecting large areas of the countryside, and causing untold damage to wildlife and destroying ecosystems in a matter of hours which have taken years to establish. We appeal to the public to be extra vigilant when visiting the countryside. Do not throw lit cigarette ends out of your vehicle or engage in activities that involve fire/heat, and if you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately. It only takes a small spark to start a fire on ground as dry as it is currently, so extra caution must be taken to help protect crops, wildlife, and habitats."

Safety advice...

• Do not use disposable barbecues in the countryside.

• Extinguish smoking materials properly - don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows.

• Don’t discard rubbish, particularly reflective materials, which can cause a spark.

• Don’t have bonfires on hot days or during prolonged periods of dry weather.

• Never leave fires unattended and make sure they are fully extinguished after use.

If the fire is in a remote area, meet emergency services at the access point so that you can guide them to the location by using:- 'What3Words.' If a fire breaks out, people are advised not to try to tackle it themselves, but to alert the emergency services by calling:- 999.