Fire-ravaged villagers live in fear of wildfires.
Some villagers continue to fear wildfires three years after their homes were destroyed, according to a parish councillor.
In July 2022, fire spread from a nearby field, destroying or severely damaging approximately 20 homes in Ashill, Norfolk.
Since March of this year, the county’s fire service has reported approximately two dozen fires in open spaces and has urged residents to exercise caution because the hot, dry weather provided “ideal conditions” for them to spread.
Ashill councillor Alan Ketteringham echoed the warning, stating that the “devastating fires” had a “lasting impact” on some residents.
Shaun Whitmore/BBCThree years ago, a fire ravaged Ashill village near Swaffham, forcing residents to evacuate and leaving many homeless.
The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning due to this spring’s recent dry spell, which is expected to be followed by higher temperatures.
The county council issued a warning last week, citing an increase in open fires in March compared to previous years.
More have since been added to the fire service incident log.
According to Simon Mason, group manager for operational response at the fire service, there has been a “general increase” in the number of open-air fires, with the majority being “unfortunate accidents”.
A lack of moisture, combined with tree leaf fall, created “ideal conditions for the potential for rapid-spread wildfire”.
He urged people to dispose of smoking materials with caution and to wait for barbecues to cool completely before discarding them.
He also warned against discarding bottles, claiming that it did not take long for glass to “magnify the sun’s rays and spark a fire”.
However, he stated that the service had a “summer readiness plan that was always tried, tested, and ready to go” and that all vehicles were outfitted with misting devices to “specifically deal with wildfires”.
Misting support vehicles enable firefighters to spray water mist, which aids in “extinguishing and controlling fires”.
He also stated that the service had purchased four additional specialist wildfire vehicles in the last year, bringing the total number of vehicles covering the county to 10.
Read more on sportupdates.co.uk
Leave a Reply