Amber wildfire alert issued for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
The fire service is giving tips for staying fire safe while out and about
An Amber wildfire alert has been issued for the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area.
An Amber alert means that, should a wildfire be experienced, it could spread quickly and easily due to the dry conditions.
The service is reminding us the risk is greatest on large areas of open land, such as heathlands, fields and even cliffsides.
There have already been several heathland fires in the Dorset area this year affecting several hectares which the service says were believed to have been started deliberately.
Group Manager Graham Kewley said: “While the dry, warm weather is very welcome, it does mean the ground and foliage are dry, leading to a greater risk of fire spreading if something happens to cause ignition. We would urge anyone going out and about in our beautiful countryside over the coming days to take extra care and be vigilant, follow our advice to #BringAPicnicNotABarbecue, and avoid having campfires on heathland or in woodlands.”
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service gives these tips for staying fire safe while out and about:
- Avoid having open fires or using barbecues in the countryside. Disposable barbecues and campfires are actually banned in many parts of Dorset.
- Extinguish smoking materials properly, and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
- If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Early detection can prevent it from developing into a large wildfire incident.
When you call the fire service you are being reminded to get to a safe place, note the fire location (apps such as What3Words can help if you're not sure), and call 999.
The service says don’t attempt to tackle fires that can’t be put out with a bucket of water – leave the area as quickly as possible.
If you’re at the beach, experts are reminding you not to set off flares, have campfires or light barbecues as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on the cliffs catching fire.
If you see any suspicious fire setting behaviour in progress, call 999 and ask for the Police.