Latest news with #Commoners
The Independent
05-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Huge Darmoor wildfire destroys 12,500 acres as firefighters battle for 24 hours
A vast wildfire has scorched approximately 12,500 acres of moorland on Dartmoor, prompting a large-scale response from fire crews. Emergency services were alerted to the blaze near Merrivale and Okehampton around 2.25pm on Sunday. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly 24 hours before finally extinguishing the fire on Monday. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service cautioned the public to avoid the affected areas, warning that the fire's behaviour could be "unpredictable" due to changing weather conditions. It comes after the UK saw the warmest start to May on record, with 29.3C registered on Thursday afternoon at Kew Gardens, in south-west London, as firefighters battled a 2km moorland blaze which broke out near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, the same day. According to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), as of 9am on May 1, fire and rescue services have responded to 439 wildfires since January 1. That compares with 250 in the same period in 2022, 60 in 2023 and just 44 in 2024. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service posted an update to X on Monday evening saying: 'Approximately 12,500 acres of moorland were destroyed by fire. 'Crews assisted by Dartmoor rangers and Commoners using firefighting equipment attempted to extinguish the fire to protect the environment. 'Crews used five Argo Cat vehicles, fogging units, leaf blowers and a drone.' Dartmoor National Park posted a photo of the fire to X on Monday morning, asking people to keep their distance from the blaze. It added: 'The dry weather has left Dartmoor highly vulnerable to fire. Please don't light BBQs or fires.' Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's area manager, Simon Young, told the BBC: ' Wildfires are always challenging because they are inaccessible for our appliances to go onto our moorland,' he said. 'It makes it very difficult, but we have specialist vehicles to make sure we have capability to get onto the moor and make sure we can do the job as safely as possible. 'The wind has really played its part and we are currently under amber wildfire conditions nationally for the next three to four days. 'We know the conditions are very dry under foot and with the wind it has just exacerbated it.' Meanwhile, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was called to a fire in the open at about 12.45pm on Monday on Turfhill, Lightwater in Surrey Heath. People were asked to avoid the area during the afternoon due to heavy smoke as firefighters tackled the four-acre blaze.
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Wildfire destroys about 5,000 hectares of Dartmoor national park
A wildfire has destroyed about 5,000 hectares (12,500 acres) of moorland on Dartmoor in Devon. Emergency services were called to the blaze at about 2.25pm on Sunday, and firefighters spent almost 24 hours at the scene before it was extinguished on Monday. The UK has had the warmest start to May on record, with 29.3C registered on Thursday afternoon at Kew Gardens in south-west London, as firefighters battled a 1.6 mile (2km) moorland blaze that broke out near Ripponden, West Yorkshire the same day. According to the National Fire Chiefs Council, as of 9am on 1 May, fire and rescue services have responded to 439 wildfires since 1 January. That compares with 250 in the same period in 2022, 60 in 2023 and 44 in 2024. People were asked to avoid the Merrivale and Okehampton areas for the time being, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire might behave unpredictably due to the changing weather. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service posted an update to X on Monday evening saying: 'Approximately 12,500 acres of moorland were destroyed by fire. 'Crews assisted by Dartmoor rangers and Commoners using firefighting equipment attempted to extinguish the fire to protect the environment. 'Crews used five Argo Cat vehicles, fogging units, leaf blowers and a drone.' Dartmoor national park posted a photo of the fire to X on Monday morning, saying: 'The dry weather has left Dartmoor highly vulnerable to fire. Please don't light BBQs or fires.' Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's area manager, Simon Young, told the BBC: 'Wildfires are always challenging because they are inaccessible for our appliances to go on to our moorland,' he said. 'It makes it very difficult, but we have specialist vehicles to make sure we have capability to get on to the moor and make sure we can do the job as safely as possible. 'The wind has really played its part and we are currently under amber wildfire conditions nationally for the next three to four days. 'We know the conditions are very dry under foot and with the wind it has just exacerbated it.' Meanwhile, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was called to a 1.6 hectare fire in the open at about 12.45pm on Monday on Turfhill, Lightwater in Surrey Heath.
NZ Herald
22-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Pope Francis death: Local religious leaders pay tribute to late pontiff
She said her daughter asked her why she loved Pope Francis so much. 'I said: he cared about the poor and he cared about the Earth. He really saw people; he noticed children. He didn't need to be fancy and he stood up to bullies. He was the kind of person I want to be like.' Whitaker said Pope Francis' 'approach was simple, but never simplistic, and often it cost him personally. In his humility and authentic presence, he earned the genuine affection of many, both inside and outside the Catholic Church.' Reverend Frank Ritchie, a Newstalk ZB broadcaster and media chaplain, also shared his tribute to the late Pope and praised his respect for everyone. Ritchie leads the Wesleyan Methodist church Commoners in Hamilton. 'The care Pope Francis showed towards those often neglected by society has personally been both deeply challenging and encouraging to me.' Ritchie said Pope Francis was willing to speak his mind while still maintaining respect for those he disagreed with. Ritchie compared how Pope Francis conducted himself to that of other world leaders. 'He knew his limits; owning his own frailty as a human and seeking the prayers of others. This was in stark contrast to the bravado of some world leaders who seek to maintain their position through projecting images of power and threats. 'I have taken many lessons from his approach to the role he was called and elected for, and that he said yes to in the Conclave of March 2013. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.' The Most Reverend Dr Don Tamihere said Francis was an 'extraordinary Christian leader'. Tamihere is the Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and Polynesia. 'Those who were close to him [the Pope] knew how truly humble and compassionate he really was,' he said. Sir David Moxon, who served for a time in Rome as the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative to the Holy See, formed a close friendship with Pope Francis while he was there, Tamihere said. 'David would often regale us with stories of Pope Francis' humility and compassion. 'I've heard too from other Māori leaders who were blessed enough to have met Pope Francis and how in awe they became of his humility and graciousness.' Tamihere said he met Pope Francis last year at the Vatican in April 2024 and shared a discussion for more than an hour. 'His [Francis's] opening words to us were 'Pray for me. This is a hard job.' Most of us chuckled because we understood in our own lesser ways what it must be like for him. 'I'll never forget how humble and gracious he was and how earnest he was in his encouragement to us.' Tamihere said the Christian Church is 'as imperfect and troubled and flawed and broken as any other historic movement may be, and probably even more so. But among the many, there are a few who actually come to embody the faith to which we all aspire. Pope Francis was one of those'. Reverend Craig Vernall said: 'Pope Francis warmed the hearts of many both inside and outside of the Catholic traditions.' Vernall is the Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Tauranga and served as New Zealand Baptist national leader from 2011-2018. He is also a vice-president of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation. 'I was always touched by how much Francis warmed the hearts of the Catholic community through his kindness and acknowledgement of hurting people. 'Pope Francis' historic acknowledgement of church abuse victims has begun the long walk back to where the church can once again become a safe place for all. His apology to the church's victims was a watershed moment.' Pope Francis has been celebrated for his response to the millions living on the margins, whether that be poverty, sexuality, migrants or our environment, Vernall said. 'Pope Francis surprised the world when he said that nations should not be criminalising homosexual activity. Again, Francis stood with those at the margins but also held his ground as a Christian moral leader.' 'We all have reason to mourn with the Catholic community for the passing of a Pope for our times.' Vernall said he hopes the next Pope will also 'have a heart of compassion and be found reaching out to our increasingly anxious world as celebrated spiritual leaders have always done'.
