Wildfire risk warning for Cornwall as school holidays approach

That disposable BBQ in your car boot, the glass bottle left in the grass, the cigarette flicked from a car window. Any one of them could start a fire that spreads across the countryside in minutes. With the school holidays about to bring more people out into rural Cornwall, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is warning that the current hot, dry conditions make it dangerously easy for a blaze to take hold.

Fires have already been reported in a number of rural locations as the dry weather continues.

Why the risk is so high right now

Wildfires can devastate farmland and wildlife, and they put the lives of people living and working in rural and neighbouring communities at risk. The CLA, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and rural businesses across England and Wales, is highlighting the most common causes ahead of what is usually one of the busiest periods for countryside visits.

The everyday things that start fires

The advice comes down to a handful of simple habits.

Don’t discard cigarettes or other smouldering material on the ground, and don’t throw lit cigarette butts out of car windows. Discarded glass bottles and other litter can also start fires by magnifying the sun’s glare.

And then there are disposable BBQs. Visitors are urged not to bring them at all, because they are extremely difficult to cool down and carry home afterwards, and they are a known cause of wildfires. As the CLA puts it, “disposable” does not mean simply leaving them behind.

What CLA South West says

CLA South West Director Ann Maidment said:

“The school holidays are a fantastic time to get out and explore the beautiful countryside, but you should always be aware of the potential risks of your surroundings. The dry, hot conditions make it extremely easy for a fire to start and spread quickly.

“A disposable BBQ left on the ground to smoulder can set grass on fire, and in the current parched conditions could easily become widespread. It only takes a slight breeze for a blaze to take hold.

“Even something as simple as a glass bottle tossed on the ground can heat up and cause a fire. It is so important for everyone to be vigilant and aware of their actions, and the potential consequences it could cause.”

Advice for landowners

Landowners and land managers are advised to prepare for fires where they can, and to make sure fire breaks are cut and well maintained. Water bowsers should be kept at the ready in case a fire does start.

More information is available on the CLA website.