Oxfordshire Fire Service urges caution as wildfires risk rises
Residents are warned against using disposable barbecues during dry conditions
As temperatures rise and conditions become drier, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning about the increased risk of wildfires in the region.
Deb Forder, the station manager for Home and Community Safety at the service, highlighted how small fires can quickly escalate into large wildfires, particularly in hot and dry environments.
"A wildfire is a fire that is approximately 10,000 square metres. So if we were looking at that size, that would be around about 1 1/2 standard football pitches," Forder said.
Forder shared that disposable barbecues, as well as carelessly discarded rubbish, are leading causes of fires in open spaces.
“Barbecues are one of the main causes that go with wildfires or fires in fields or in the open"
While enjoying the outdoors during summer months, residents are urged to discard disposable barbecue equipment only after it has completely cooled down.
Furthermore, glass bottles left behind can magnify sunlight, potentially igniting fires in vegetation.
In addition to wildfires, Forder advised against lighting bonfires due to similar risks of spreading fire through embers or sparks.
"It's not just the radiated heat. It could be embers or sparks from the fire that can then jump and create a fire elsewhere," she said.
Wildfires present dangers not only to people's homes but can impact farmers' livelihoods and livestock, causing significant damage to land and wildlife in rural Oxfordshire.
“They think they've got time to react. But it's not always the case," Forder said, emphasizing the rapid spread of fires in certain conditions.