CLA Midlands calls for care in the countryside as wildfire risk rises

With warm, dry weather continuing and the school holidays in full swing, more people are expected to visit the countryside. The CLA is raising awareness of the main causes of wildfires and how to prevent them.

For those who manage and work the land, wildfire threatens not just the environment but their businesses and way of life.

In the current conditions, any wildfire could spread rapidly and require significant resources to bring under control. On farmland, the risks extend beyond crops and buildings to livestock, habitats and wildlife. Fires have already been reported across a number of rural locations as the hot, dry weather continues.

Planning and prevention are the best defence when it comes to protecting your land from potential wildfires.

• Keep firebreaks properly cut and maintained.
• Remove cut grass and vegetation to create defensible space.
• Prepare an emergency plan with input from your insurer, neighbours and local fire and rescue service.
• Include evacuation routes and plans for quickly relocating livestock.
• Make sure staff and contractors know what to do in an emergency.
• Check local regulations and obtain the necessary permits before carrying out controlled burns.
• Only burn in safe weather conditions and never leave fires unattended.
• Stay up to date with fire conditions through local authorities, weather alerts and regional agencies during dry weather.

There are simple precautions visitors can take to help prevent wildfires and enjoy the countryside responsibly.

Many CLA members have highlighted that disposable barbecues and sky lanterns can increase the risk of fire in these dry conditions, especially when barbecues are not lit in sheltered areas or when sky lanterns land on dry fields.

• Do not discard cigarettes, smouldering materials or litter.
• Take particular care with reflective materials, bottles or glass shards, which can increase fire risk in dry conditions.
• Avoid lighting garden rubbish or bonfires during prolonged dry weather.
• Only use barbecues in sheltered areas where it is authorised to do so, well away from combustible material.
• Make sure barbecues are properly extinguished afterwards and never leave them unattended.
• Visitors to the countryside are urged not to bring disposable BBQs. ‘Disposable’ does not mean just leaving them behind.
• Check with the local council if a Public Space Protection Order(PSPOs) is in place before visiting. To reduce the risk of wildfires, councils can put a PSPO in place which proposes to ban the use of barbecues, campfires, camping stoves, fireworks and sky lanterns in those areas most at risk.

Despite years of CLA lobbying, government has been slow to act on measures that would reduce wildfire risk and better support rural communities.

The CLA continues to call for practical land management policies, including planning reform and abstraction licences to support winter-fed farm reservoirs, stronger rural input into devolution and responsible public access to help reduce deliberate or negligent wildfires.

The right policy framework must also be backed by adequate resources. The National Preparedness Commission has highlighted the need for better Fire and Rescue Service capacity to respond to wildfires, search and rescue, winter floods and other emergencies.

We advise that you should not try to tackle the fire yourself. The best course of action is to call 999 and request the fire service. The Fire Service will require an accurate location, what3words is a good tool to use the give an accurate reference. You must ensure your own safety so move to a safe area and is possible, contact the landowner / manager.