In view of the current challenges with COVID-19, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is asking all land owners and land managers in Cumbria to only undertake prescribed fires if absolutely essential to do so.
Cumbria FRS recognises that, because of a lot of wet weather during the current burn season, there will be a desire to take advantage of good conditions to undertake prescribed burning in the run up to the end of the burning season on either 31 March – or 15 April if in an upland area.
If the burns are essential, please ensure that you have sufficient personnel and resources to control and extinguish the burn safely. CFRS urge land owners and land managers to exercise caution.
Whilst conditions may be good for burning, they could also be supportive of very large wildfires like the significant moorland blaze yesterday at Deer Hill Reservoir in Marsden, West Yorkshire.
It is vitally important during these challenging and unprecedented times that we all need to take proactive and responsible steps to reduce the likelihood of wildfires starting and support Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to maintain effective FRS response and resilience.
Group Manager Kevin Johnston said: “It is essential that Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service continue to provide an effective emergency response in these unprecedented times, so we will require everybody to maintain high levels of fire prevention and protection to reduce the risk of fires to a minimum.”
