One year on from the Langdale Moor wildfire, Jo Coles, North Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime has called for action on disposable barbecues.
The Deputy Mayor said:
“This time last year, a fire was raging on the North Yorkshire moors, burning into precious peatbeds and destroying around 25km2, an area of moorland ten times the size of the Great Fire of London. It was, tragically, one of the largest wildfires ever in the UK. This year, with wildfires once again threatening farmland, woods, parks in our area and elsewhere across the country, the Mayor David Skaith and I would like to once again thank all those who are responding to these incidents. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service does an incredible job to keep our county safe, but for a rural region like ours we will always need the help and support of partners such as farmers, landowners, gamekeepers and businesses as well as the wider community.
“Given the cause of our fire last year was confirmed to almost certainly be an open cooking flame and the recent fire in Wykeham Forest, near Scarborough was caused by a disposable barbecue, David Skaith and I have been calling for some time for the sale of disposable barbecues across our county to be banned. Some retailers have responded positively to this call and it’s incredibly welcome to hear that the Government is now considering forcing this change. But we cannot afford to wait for another major wildfire before action is taken. All retailers can show leadership now and remove these items from sale.
“Our beautiful countryside is incredibly precious. Witnessing the scale of the damage has been devastating and this fire highlighted the growing risks from hotter, drier conditions and the need for everyone to play their part. The regional ‘Don’t Spark Disaster’ campaign from North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire Council, Forestry England, and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service demonstrates the impact fires have, but preventing wildfires is everyone’s responsibility. By following fire service guidance and taking care when visiting the countryside, we can minimise the risks and protect our wildlife and natural landscapes for future generations.”
