An Amber wildfire alert has been issued for the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area.
An Amber alert means that, should a wildfire be experienced, it could spread quickly and easily due to the dry conditions. The risk is greatest on large areas of open land, such as heathlands, fields and even cliffsides.
Landowners and land managers are advised to be prepared for fires, where possible, and ensure that fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with any cut grasses and vegetation removed from the site.
Farmers are urged to keep their machinery well maintained, and to follow the Service’s advice on staying fire safe, which can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/fire-risks-on-farms
What you can do to help in reducing these fires:
• Avoid having open fires or using barbecues in the countryside. Disposable barbecues and campfires are actually banned in many parts of Dorset.
• Extinguish smoking materials properly, and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
• If you’re at the beach, don’t set off flares, have campfires or light barbecues as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on the cliffs catching fire. If you see a fire in the countryside, call 999 immediately. Early detection can prevent it from developing into a large wildfire incident.
