Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service issued an Amber wildfire alert for its area for the coming weekend, announcing it on 9 May 2024. The service said this is the first Amber wildfire alert of 2024 in Dorset and Wiltshire1.
An Amber alert means that, should a wildfire be experienced, it could spread quickly and easily due to the dry conditions, according to the service. It said the risk is greatest on large areas of open land, such as heathlands, fields and even cliffsides1.
Group Manager Stuart Gillion said:
"With a period of warm weather underway, we would urge people to take real care when enjoying the sunshine in our beautiful countryside. If you're visiting our heathlands, woodlands or countryside, please avoid having a campfire and take a picnic rather than use a disposable barbecue, just a few simple steps can make a real difference to preventing fires from starting."
The service's fire safety tips for anyone outdoors over the coming days include not having barbecues or campfires on the heath or in open spaces, because the risk of a fire starting is too great, and extinguishing cigarettes properly rather than throwing cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows1. It asks anyone who sees a fire in the countryside to call 999 and report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service, giving as much detail as possible about the location, using the What3Words app if necessary, while making sure they are in a safe place1.
For those at home, the service advises never leaving a bonfire or barbecue unattended and siting them well away from fences, trees or buildings. It says a garden hose should be to hand if having a bonfire at home, that petrol or another accelerant should never be used to start one, and that barbecue coals stay hot for hours, so they should be doused with water and not put in a plastic wheelie bin until absolutely cold1. Landowners and land managers are advised to be prepared for fires where possible and to ensure fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with any cut grasses and vegetation removed from the site1.
Why it matters for households
The alert covers the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area, which the service lists as Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Dorset, Swindon and Wiltshire, and applies to the coming weekend from the announcement on 9 May 20241. Households in these areas who plan to visit heathlands, woodlands or countryside, or to light barbecues or bonfires at home, are within the scope of the service's advice. The service has not reported any specific fire, closure or restriction in connection with the alert; it describes a heightened risk rather than an incident. Its guidance on wildfires and grass fires, barbecues and wildfire risk in dry weather, protecting your home and garden from a wildfire and what to do if you see or are near a wildfire sets out the wider background, within the site's heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
The service has not reported when the Amber alert will be reviewed or lifted. It points readers to its own countryside safety pages for more information on enjoying the outdoors while staying fire safe1.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
Barbecues and Wildfire Risk
Wildfire Home Protection
What to Do Near a Wildfire
