LEAVE the barbecues at home and don’t drop cigarette butts is the message to anyone visiting the countryside over the coming days.
With temperatures soaring and dry conditions on the ground, the threat to wildlife, livestock and land from fire increases, says insurer NFU Mutual.
They’ve made a plea to visitors to leave their barbecues at home and take extreme care to avoid starting a fire.
Recent moorland, grass and forest fires, such as the major incident on Bodmin Moor in April which took firefighters over 14 hours to contain, have caused devastating damage to wide areas of the British countryside and served as a stark warning about the dangers of wildfires.
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David Price, South West Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: ’Months of dry, sunny weather and tinder-dry conditions this week mean that large parts of the countryside are at risk of fire – putting the lives of people, farm animals and wildlife at risk as well as damaging valuable crops.
’We’re urging people to act considerately when out and about in the countryside. Please don’t take disposable barbecues on walks or start campfires, and don’t leave litter and rubbish lying around.’
NFU Mutual claims statistics reveal the cost of farm fires totalled £46.4m in 2018, which was another dry year.
NFU countryside fire checklist:
• Don’t drop used matches or cigarettes – they can smoulder and start a fire
• Don’t start campfires or use disposable barbecues on grass, moorland or in forests
• Call 999 if you spot a fire while out in the countryside
• Avoid parking in narrow country lanes where emergency services vehicle access could be blocked
• Don’t drop litter – discarded bottles can focus sunlight and start a fire
• Follow national and local Coronavirus rules
• Keep to footpaths when walking in the countryside
More information about safety in the countryside is available from NFU Mutual’s website: www.nfumutual.co.uk.