Wildfire risks still ‘exceptionally high’
02 June 2020
Published by https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/
UK (SCOTLAND) WILDFIRE risks across Highland moors and grasslands is still exceptionally high, gamekeepers and estates have warned the public.
They issued their reminder following a spate of wildfires elsewhere in the UK in recent days – including one on Bamford Moor in Derbyshire’s Peak District on Saturday evening. The fire, which is believed to have been started by a barbecue, was tackled by gamekeepers using their own specialist firefighting equipment until fire services arrived.
This spring there have also been a number of incidents in the Highlands, including ones near Ullapool, Kishorn, Strathpeffer and Glenfeshie.
Tim Baynes, Moorland Director at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Each year we are witnessing more and more wildfires occurring on moorland and grassland and this period of exceptionally hot weather in the UK has heightened the risk once again.
“These fires often occur by innocuous means such as discarded cigarettes and disposable barbecues and we need to ensure the correct precautions are taken by those accessing hills and moors. Sadly, those managing rural land have found more careless behaviour occurring since lockdown rather than less.
“Wildfires not only create a safety risk for all of us but are also devastating for wildlife, particularly for ground nesting birds, insects and mammals. We would urge the public to take care and leave items such as barbecues at home.
“Estates with grouse moors and upland farmers practise controlled burning early in the year to create fire breaks and reduce grass and heather loads which could be susceptible to wildfire. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has backed the use of controlled burning to combat wildfires and we continue to see time, knowledge and private investment from gamekeepers and estates being utilised to prevent wildfires and tackle them when they do unfortunately occur.
”Through investment in on off-road vehicles and “fogging” units, skilled staff and specialist insurance which can allow for the use of helicopters to tackle wildfires, we estimate that tens of millions of pounds worth of resources are available to help quickly tackle wildfires in conjunction with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.Often a nearby estate is in a position to be ‘first responder’ and can contain a wildfire before it becomes serious.”
