Latest news with #NaturalHazardsPartnership
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Firefighters tackling two gorse fires in County Down
Firefighters are currently tackling two gorse fires in County Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service (NIFRS) said six fire engines are in attendance at a fire in Dromintee They received a report of the blaze at 14:20 BST on Thursday. Meanwhile, a report of a second incident at the Fathom Mountain in Cloghoge was received at 23:21BST and four appliance are at the scene. The blazes are the latest in a string of gorse Monday, firefighters have put out a gorse fire near Spelga Dam in the Mourne week, a number of fires were dealt with by firefighters on Slieve were two other blazes in the area, one near Silent Valley and another near Castlewellan, in County fire near Castlewellan is believed to have been started month, the Natural Hazards Partnership issued an amber warning for wildfires in Northern said that dry and breezy conditions heightened the risk of a blaze.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Warning over disposable barbecues as UK temperatures set to soar to 22C
Wildfire alerts have been issued across much of the UK, as well as a warning to avoid barbecues with dry conditions expected through April. Fire brigades and the Met Office warned of an elevated wildfire risk. Most of England, including London, has been put on alert, which will extend into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Wednesday. The Fire Severity Index, which offers a daily hazard assessment for the responder community, is currently at an amber level, meaning the conditions across the UK are severe and could lead to wildfires. This comes ahead of warmer temperatures this spring, which are expected to peak at 22C on Friday. Londoners and people living in Dorset were urged not to use disposable barbecues and to properly dispose of cigarettes, matches and litter, as fire crews have asked people to act responsibly to prevent the risk of wildfires. Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.' She added: 'However, showers moving into the far South West will bring some relief to these parts. Then dry weather continues Friday and Saturday extending further north across western Scotland.' England will mostly be affected by the alert, she said, adding that the Met Office couldn't be specific on location due to the nature of wildfires. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: 'We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting. 'Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors even when temperatures are not at their highest. 'As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire. 'We're also working closely with partners, such as local authorities, to help manage the risks in outdoor spaces and ensure the public are following the safety advice.' Glasgow's Kilpatrick Hills already experienced wildfires earlier this week. Scottish Fire and Rescue warned that the wildfire risk would be 'very high to extreme' for the rest of the week. Firefighters also responded to a wildfire in the Swansea mountains as 20 hectares of gorse was set alight earlier in March. The Met Office does not have an official public warning service for wildfire risk, instead contributing to a daily hazard assessment as part of the Natural Hazards Partnership, which brings together expertise across government bodies. This is then circulated to the government and the emergency services, as well as local authorities. The wildfire alerts follow news from the forecaster that the UK experienced a record-breaking March. Provisional statistics show that England enjoyed its sunniest March since records began in 1910, while Wales enjoyed its second sunniest. UK-wide, it was the third sunniest March on record. While the country experienced more sunshine than usual, it also experienced less rain. March was a very dry month, as the UK recorded just 43 per cent of its average rainfall for the month. Only Scotland recorded more than half of its meteorological average rainfall, while Shetland was the only county that saw above average with 129 per cent.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Warning to avoid barbecues in April after wildfire alerts issued across UK
Wildfire alerts have been issued across much of the UK, as well as a warning to avoid barbecues with dry conditions expected through April. Fire brigades and the Met Office warned of an elevated wildfire risk. Most of England, including London, has been put on alert, which will extend into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Wednesday. The Fire Severity Index, which offers a daily hazard assessment for the responder community, is currently at an amber level, meaning the conditions across the UK are severe and could lead to wildfires. This comes ahead of warmer temperatures this spring, which are expected to peak at 22C on Friday. Londoners and people living in Dorset were urged not to use disposable barbecues and to properly dispose of cigarettes, matches and litter, as fire crews have asked people to act responsibly to prevent the risk of wildfires. Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.' She added: 'However, showers moving into the far South West will bring some relief to these parts. Then dry weather continues Friday and Saturday extending further north across western Scotland.' England will mostly be affected by the alert, she said, adding that the Met Office couldn't be specific on location due to the nature of wildfires. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: 'We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting. 'Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors even when temperatures are not at their highest. 'As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire. 'We're also working closely with partners, such as local authorities, to help manage the risks in outdoor spaces and ensure the public are following the safety advice.' Glasgow's Kilpatrick Hills already experienced wildfires earlier this week. Scottish Fire and Rescue warned that the wildfire risk would be 'very high to extreme' for the rest of the week. Firefighters also responded to a wildfire in the Swansea mountains as 20 hectares of gorse was set alight earlier in March. The Met Office does not have an official public warning service for wildfire risk, instead contributing to a daily hazard assessment as part of the Natural Hazards Partnership, which brings together expertise across government bodies. This is then circulated to the government and the emergency services, as well as local authorities. The wildfire alerts follow news from the forecaster that the UK experienced a record-breaking March. Provisional statistics show that England enjoyed its sunniest March since records began in 1910, while Wales enjoyed its second sunniest. UK-wide, it was the third sunniest March on record. While the country experienced more sunshine than usual, it also experienced less rain. March was a very dry month, as the UK recorded just 43 per cent of its average rainfall for the month. Only Scotland recorded more than half of its meteorological average rainfall, while Shetland was the only county that saw above average with 129 per cent.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Mourne Mountains: Firefighters tackle gorse fire near Spelga Dam
Firefighters are tackling a gorse fire near Spelga Dam in the Mourne Mountains. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service (NIFRS) received a report of the blaze at 18:39 BST on Monday. About four acres of gorse was on firefighters are currently at the scene, with three fire engines, two Land Rovers and a water tanker. Road closures are in place in the Kilkeel Road and Slievenaman Road areas of Hilltown, County Down, police have said. The blaze is the latest in a string of fires in the week, a number of fires were dealt with by firefighters on Slieve were two other blazes in the area, one near Silent Valley and another near Castlewellan, in County fire near Castlewellan is believed to have been started Natural Hazards Partnership issued an amber warning for wildfires in Northern said that dry and breezy conditions heightened the risk of a blaze.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters tackle Mourne Mountains blaze
Firefighters have extinguished a large gorse fire on Slieve Binnian in the Mourne Mountains. Six fire appliances and a command support unit tackled the blaze. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) had asked residents to keep windows and doors closed on Monday afternoon. The blaze was extinguished at about 20:00 GMT, NIFRS said. It follows two other fires in the area last week, one near Silent Valley and another near Castlewellan. The fire near Castlewellan is believed to have been started deliberately. The Natural Hazards Partnership issued an amber warning for wildfires in Northern Ireland last Friday. It said that dry and breezy conditions heightened the risk of a blaze. Gorse fire in the Mourne Mountains put out Mourne Mountains fire believed to be 'deliberate'
