Latest news with #campfires
BBC News
2 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Quantock Hills ranger issues barbecue warning amid wildfire risk
A ranger has alerted people to the dangers of accidentally creating wildfires in Stevenson, a ranger for the National Landscape Team on the Quantock Hills, said there should be no barbecues or campfires on the moorland due to the fire risk. His warning comes after a section of the Quantock Hills were set on fire in April, with fire crews having to work through the night to contain the blaze. "Everything is tinder dry at the moment," Mr Stevenson said. "If something was to catch fire on the hills particularly, the whole place would probably go up to be honest." Mr Stevenson said in the past two years, approximately four or five fires have been started on the Quantock Hills by barbecues and campfires that got out of hand. The ranger said while controlled burns are carried out on the hills between December and February, they should not be confused with winter fires are set for habitat management and also work as a fire prevention service, Mr Stevenson explained."There may be patches across the hills that you may see are black and charred immediately after the winter," he added."They'll very quickly recover with a damp spring, which we haven't had this year."He said anyone who sees smoke on the Quantox between March and November should call 999. Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 856 wildfire incidents so far this year, according to the National Fire Chiefs the end of July, it said wildfire numbers were 663% higher than the same period in 2024 and 33% higher than the same period in 2022, which was then a record year for Stevenson told BBC Radio Somerset's Simon Parkin that he did not want to discourage people from walking on the hills, but urged people to be mindful of their surroundings. 'Don't take a BBQ' Ben Williams, the group commander from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, has also asked people to enjoy the countryside safely. He said: "We've had a quite a dry hot summer and in these fine periods of weather we really encourage people to get outside."But we'd say take a picnic, don't take a barbecue."Effectively any open fire increases the risk of that spreading going out of control."It means resources have to be dragged in from right across the country."When we're dealing with those incidents which were entirely preventable, those resources are being diverted away from their primary role - maintaining a life."
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Province tells people defying wildfire restrictions to stop
In a livestreamed event on the wildfires burning in New Brunswick, Premier Susan Holt and Natural Resources Minister John Herron said most people are adhering to restrictions on campfires and other activities in woods, but some people aren't.
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Burn ban back in effect in Ottawa amid dry weather
One week after lifting an open air fire ban, Ottawa Fire Services is putting another one into effect. All open air fires are prohibited in Ottawa during a ban, including properties that have an Open Air Fire Permit. This ban applies to agricultural burns, brush pile burns, as well as campfires. This comes amid a lengthy stretch of dry weather, with minimal rainfall in the city. Wednesday marked the 10th straight day with no rain in Ottawa. According to Environment Canada's website, a trace of rain was recorded on July 27. Ottawa received 8.4 mm of rain on July 24. There were two temporary burn bans in Ottawa in July and one in late June. Ottawa Fire Services says there will be zero tolerance for open air fires during the ban. With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Open-air fire ban lifted for City of Ottawa
The Ottawa Fire Services has lifted the burn ban for the City of Ottawa, allowing people to have campfires this weekend. An open-air fire ban was issued for the city on Tuesday, due to the hot and humid weather conditions gripping Ottawa. During a burn ban, all open-air fires, including campfires, are prohibited. The ban covers on properties that have an Open Air Fire Permit. On Friday, officials announced the open-air fire ban had been lifted. Officials remind residents that they must obtain an Open Air Fire Permit in order to have an open fire. Ottawa experienced seven straight days of hot and humid weather, including five days with the temperature above 30 C. The capital received 8.6 mm of rain on Thursday as a storm system moved through the area.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
New Forest areas assessed for damage after seven weekend fires
Several areas of a national park are being assessed for damage following weekend the worst incident in the New Forest, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said crews from Hardley and Beaulieu began tackling a blaze on Exbury Road, Beaulieu, shortly before 22:00 BST on reels and jets, as well as a specialist water carrier vehicle from Eastleigh, were used to extinguish the blaze which affected a 60m by 40m area of England said it was one of seven fire-related incidents in the forest over the weekend, at least two of which were caused by campfires. "The current risk of wildfires is high and everyone visiting can help to protect the forest."We are reviewing the affected areas to assess the level of damage. "We would like to thank the fire service for attending the incidents so quickly and making the areas safe," it added. The site at Beaulieu is still being monitored and the cause is being use of barbecues and the lighting of campfires in the New Forest is prohibited under Public Space Protection Orders introduced in England also urged people to discard any cigarettes, glass bottles and other litter safely to reduced the risk of wildfires following the hot, dry weather conditions. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
