Warning after grass fire comes within yards of school

A grass fire which spread rapidly and nearly engulfed a primary school has prompted an urgent warning from firefighters.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) said the blaze "quadrupled in size" within 20 minutes and reached the fence-line of Hope Primary School on Lordens Road, Huyton, before it was brought under control on 2 August.

Senior officers are urging people not to start deliberate fires, and to take care when discarding cigarettes, vapes or rubbish as the hot and dry conditions continue.

The service said it has attended 945 grass or rubbish fires across Merseyside since 1 June - more than half of which were started deliberately.

Kevin Johnson, head of prevention for MFRS, said the outcome of the Lordens Road fire "could have been very different".

"These fires are not harmless. They can threaten homes and buildings, destroy wildlife and green spaces, and put members of the public and our firefighters at risk," he said.

"We are asking people to think carefully about their actions," said Johnson.

"Never deliberately light a fire in open spaces, dispose of cigarettes safely, and take your rubbish home rather than leaving it on grassland."

The service said barbecues should never be left unattended and should be kept away from grass, fences, sheds and buildings. Barbecues are not permitted on beaches.

It also advised parents to be aware of where their child was, and to ask questions if they came home smelling of smoke.

MFRS stressed that even minor fires, which do not cause injuries or significant damage, have the potential to divert fire crews away from life-threatening incidents elsewhere.

While attending grass and rubbish fires, fire crews have had to deal with 134 house, or flat, fires where people could have been in danger.

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