Forestry England has reminded members of the public never to light a fire or BBQ in a forest after wildfire was narrowly prevented at Haldon Forest Park on Saturday.
Rangers noticed smoke rising from an area at the end of a cycling trail which was traced to a campfire left burning unattended. Staff were able to extinguish the fire before it spread and took to social media to remind visitors that fires, BBQs, and other stoves should never be lit in the forest.
Katy Harrison, Haldon Forest Park manager, said: “Fortunately, our diligent ranger team found this fire in time and were able to put it out properly and safely. But the outcome could have been very different. Forestry England is still working to restore hundreds of hectares of wildlife habitat at Wareham Forest in Dorset, which was burned as a result of human error in 2020. The damage caused by one person’s carelessness will take decades to repair and we’re thankful that no people were hurt.
“Here in Devon, the ground is still extremely dry despite the recent rain showers. The forest is full of flammable material and even a small fire can very easily burn out of control. Fires can also spread underground and ignite elsewhere, putting people and wildlife in danger.
“Our plea is very simple: help us care for the countryside by never lighting a fire or BBQ in the forest.”
Anyone finding a fire or smoke in the forest should not try to tackle it themselves, but should contact the fire service and forest rangers. The what3words app can be the quickest way to give an accurate location.
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