Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) issued a red fire severity alert for the coming days across Dorset and Wiltshire on 11 August 2022, following the Met Office amber weather warning for extreme heat1.
During the same period last year it dealt with 34 incidents of this nature, an increase of over 429%1. DWFRS said a red alert means that, should a wildfire be experienced, it could spread quickly and easily due to the dry conditions, with the risk greatest on large areas of open land such as heathlands, fields and cliffsides1.
Group Manager Stuart Gillion said:
The service asked the public not to have barbecues or bonfires during the current hot spell. It said disposable barbecues and campfires are banned in many parts of Dorset, and asked people to extinguish smoking materials properly and take litter home1. It advised anyone who sees a fire in the countryside to report it immediately, and set out steps for callers: get to a safe place, note the fire location (apps such as What3Words can help), call 999 and meet the Fire & Rescue Service at the access point. It said people should not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water and should leave the area as quickly as possible1. At the beach, it asked people not to set off flares, have campfires or light barbecues, as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on cliffs catching fire1.
Landowners and land managers were advised to be prepared for fires where possible and to ensure fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with cut grasses and vegetation removed from the site. Farmers were urged to keep machinery well maintained and to follow the service's farm fire safety advice1. GM Gillion added that dealing with wildfires is resource-intensive and some can take days, and even weeks, to bring under control1.
Why it matters for households
The alert covers Dorset and Wiltshire and applies to the coming days from 11 August 2022, during the Met Office amber warning for extreme heat1. For households in these areas, the service's stated position is that fires outdoors, including barbecues and bonfires, should not take place during the hot spell, and that disposable barbecues and campfires are banned in many parts of Dorset1. The service's advice on reporting fires, keeping clear of fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water, and avoiding flares and campfires at the beach is set out above and applies to anyone out in the countryside or on the coast1. The service's guidance on countryside safety is published on its website1. For general background, see the guide to wildfires and grass fires: risk and prevention and what to do if you see or are near a wildfire, part of the heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
No end date for the red alert has been reported. The service said the alert was issued for the coming days following the Met Office amber warning for extreme heat1.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
What to Do Near a Wildfire
