Fire service plea after busiest month in four years

A fire service has reported its busiest month in four years after dealing with 277 grassland, woodland and crop fires during July.

With the fifth heatwave of the summer this week, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) is reminding people to help reduce the risk of wildfires.

Fires during such dry spells spread quickly and can be extremely difficult to extinguish, the service said, adding fires also have a lasting impact on the environment and wildlife, which can take decades to recover.

DWFRS urged people to avoid barbecues and campfires, especially on heathland and open spaces, and to extinguish smoking materials carefully and to not using sky lanterns and fireworks.

Area manager Marc House said: "The figures are reflective of how challenging this summer has been, but we are very grateful to the vast majority of people who have followed our advice and avoided activity that could lead to a fire starting.

"With no sign of rain in the coming days, and another heatwave due, we all need to remain cautious to reduce the risk of fire."

DWFRS has the following safety tips:

• Avoid using barbecues, campfires or camping stoves (especially on heathland or in open spaces). If you do, douse any coals/fire pits with water and do not dispose of the remnants until you are sure they are cold
• Extinguish smoking materials properly, and do not throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home
• If you see a fire in the countryside, get to a safe place and call 999 to report it immediately to the fire service. Use the What3Words app if possible to provide an accurate location and give as much detail as possible
• Do not have a bonfire at home during these high-risk conditions
• If at the beach, do not set off flares, have campfires, or light barbecues as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on the cliffs catching fire.
• Do not use fireworks and sky lanterns, which can easily cause fires in these very dry conditions

The fire service urged anyone witnessing suspicious fire-setting behaviour to call 999 and ask for the police. It is also possible to report something anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.