Plea made over fires during Covid-19 crisis

Denbighshire’s Countryside Service and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are backing efforts by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to highlight the dangers of uncontrolled fires and bonfires over the coming months and at a time when services are stretched to the limit dealing with effects of coronavirus.

Landowners will probably be aware the heather and grass burning season runs from 1st October to 31st March in upland areas and between 1st November and 15th March elsewhere. 

Many farmers take the opportunity to undertake controlled burning of heather, grass bracken and gorse on their land and should not continue this the practice beyond the burning season. 

But the agencies say there have been occasions in the past when fires have been lit either by landowners or by other countryside users wanting to create a bonfire and this has caused some damage to our scenic countryside and fires can quickly get out of control.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “The heather and grass burning season has only just come to an end in upland areas of Denbighshire and landowners are respectfully asked to stick to the Code and not carry out burning.  

"The majority of landowners stick to the rules and we thank them for that.  But we have seen examples in the past of people either burning or lighting fires in the countryside, and there’s a risk that these fires can get out of control, especially after a dry and warm spell. 

“Only recently there were reports of uncontrolled fires in the county.

“We are trying to protect our scenic countryside and there’s no reason to be lighting fires during this time.  People should not be wandering around the countryside; they should stay at home and take exercise locally. Certainly no one should be lighting any bonfires. 

“Staffing resources within countryside service will be stretched as a result of coronavirus and we do not have additional capacity to respond and deal with the aftermaths of fires like this. They are completely avoidable and our plea is for people to act responsibly and not create a fire risk in the countryside now, or at any other time.”

Tim Owen, Arson Reduction Manager, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We’re asking farmers and landowners to avoid undertaking controlled burning and residents to avoid burning waste to help to reduce the demand on firefighters and help them to stay safe during this difficult time.

“A small fire can spread so easily. Please don’t put unnecessary extra pressure on North Wales’ services. Let’s work together to fight coronavirus.”