Moorland Fire Risk [5 August 2003]

The Ramblers' Association (RA) calls upon all walkers to minimise the risk of fire on moorland during hot, dry weather.

The peat itself can burn, as well as the surface vegetation. Fires can therefore be deep, intense, and long-lasting. They can do serious long-term ecological and scenic damage.

The RA believes that the presence of walkers is beneficial if they are encouraged to prevent fire and to minimise the damage caused by any which do occur. This is preferable to closing moors.

When a high risk of moorland fire is apparent, walkers are urged to adhere to the following:

DO NOT:

• Use stoves
• Light fires
• Strike matches
• Use lighters
• Smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars
• Leave glass
• Discard hot objects on around motor roads

If you use a vehicle, be alert when parking to the danger of heat, particularly from catalytic converters, starting fires even some minutes after the engine has been switched off.

Watch out for signs of fire eg - smoke, burning vegetation and smouldering peat

If you see any signs of fire:

• Be prepared to curtail or divert your walk
• Inform the fire brigade as quickly as possible, giving the nature and location of the fire, if possible including a grid reference
• Be prepare to direct the fire brigade to the fire
• Follow any instructions that the fire brigade may give you
• Be prepare to split the party for these purposes
• Keep yourself safe at all times
• Only intervene to reduce the fire if it is small
• Always have a visible line of retreat