Moorland Fire Risk High

With the hottest spell of the year predicted for this week and the moors and hills already dry, the risk of fire is a major concern in many outdoors areas.

For example, last week Northumberland National Park Rangers issued a warning to walkers and picnickers to be especially careful in the Cheviot Hills which are now tinder dry.

The same is true in areas like the Peak, North Yorkshire Moors and the Lancashire Moors where underlying peat deposits can smoulder for weeks once ignited.

In the Peak, parts of which were devastated by huge fires in 2003, Rangers have been out on the hills warning walkers of the risks and warning signs have been erected at strategic points though there has been no repeat of last year's Fire Awareness Week. The damage caused by the 2003 fires is still being repaired as part of the Moors For The Future project.

The risks aren't always obvious: a discarded cigarette end, careless barbecue or rashly used stove are clear causes of fire, less obviously a discarded bottle could magnify the sun onto dry vegetation causing a blaze that could burn for weeks devastating local habitat and damaging moorland industries like game birds and farming.

Precautions...

Avoid using disposable barbecues, camp fires and camping stoves when conditions are very dry.

Don't throw away lighted matches or cigarette ends, make sure they are properly put out and take them away with you.

Don't leave glass lying around which could focus the sun's rays onto tinder and start a blaze.

Call the Fire Service on 999 immediately if you see any suspected fire or fire hazard and give accurate information about the location of the fire.

Smokers...

Moors for the Future has purchased 10,000 'butts and gum' pouches - see picture above - to hand out to smokers on the Peak moors. See www.buttsandgum.com, they're reuseable anti-litter pouches suitable for, you guessed it, cigarette butts and chewing gum residue.

You should be able to get one by asking a Ranger on the hill, or presumably visiting one of the Ranger stations at Information Centres in the Park.