Large fire risk in Exmoor
Critics have claimed that proposals to limit the controlled burning on Exmoor may leave the area open to the possibility of even bigger fires.
The issue was raised at a Natural England meeting last week which discussed limiting the “swayling”, as it is known, to just five hectares.
The controlled burning practice is carried out in order to prevent overgrowth and allows for better walking access and should a fire then break out, it would be less likely to start spreading quickly.
Speaking on behalf of Exmoor Uprising, a local pressure group, Molly Groves, said:
“If matters are left any longer when these areas finally do catch fire they will burn the peat as well and we shall be left with an arid wasteland.
“Any walkers caught in front of the fire, going with the wind, will not be able to run fast enough to get away from it.”
Simon Thorp, Director of the Heather Trust, said that large wild fires could become a future issue of the management of the unburnt heather build-up is not addressed, due to the fact that longer heather is harder to control when on fire.
A Natural England spokesperson said:
“We continue to work closely with landowners and managers to agree and implement burning plans on SSSIs or as part of their agri-environment agreements.”
Yorkshire residents warned over fire safety this Christmas
It has been reported that South Yorkshire fire service officials have made a public plea to people living in the area to consider the very real danger posed by accidental house fires during the festive period.
Bosses from the fire service drew on statistics to back up the campaign, saying that, since the year 2003, over 100 injuries had taken place in the South Yorkshire region throughout the month of December, with 10 deaths resulting from fire-related incidents.
Officers said that the main fire hazards included things like cooking food, dry Christmas trees, fairy lights and Candles.
Spokesman Steve Makepeace said:
“The risk of fire in the home is an all year round issue, but people are particularly vulnerable at Christmas for reasons ranging from unsafe electrical decorations and unattended candles, to cooking whilst under the influence of alcohol.
“People also vastly underestimate the deadly strength of toxic smoke and overestimate how long they have to escape should a fire break out.
“The reality is that just two to three breaths of smoke in a fire can render a person unconscious.
“Christmas should be a time for celebration rather than tragedy and for this reason I’m urging people to be fire aware and stay fire safe.”
Owners of fire damaged Carlisle nightclub plan for future
Despite the fact that it may take more than five months before the nightclub is ready to re-open again, the owners remained defiant after an electrical fire broke out in the building on Thursday the 16th of December causing extensive fire, smoke and water damage.
Four appliances were called to the night spot known as The Melting Pot at around 11am on the weekday morning.
Passers-by managed to notice that smoke was coming from the roof of the building on Fisher Street and so raised the alarm.
The firefighters from Carlisle, Longtown and Brampton managed to contain the fire within the hour and then began the damping down process.
Access to the area was restricted for a few hours while the fire crews worked on putting out the fire, which may have been triggered by an electrical fault.
The current owners of the nightclub are confident that the premises can be fully repaired and restored, but understand that there will be a long process ahead of them.
An investigation has now been launched by investigators from the fire service into establishing the cause of the blaze, which began in the lounge bar area, although it is not thought that it was started deliberately.
Farmhouse fire investigation uncovers human remains
Police investigations into a recent farmhouse fire near the town of Denny in Scotland have revealed what could prove to be the remains of the human occupants.
The fire, which happened just before 4am in the morning at Castlerankine Farm, in Stirlingshire, on Thursday the 9th of December, destroyed the two-storey building.
A member of the public first reported that the farmhouse was alight and flames could already be seen coming from the property.
Emergency services attended the scene but the occupants of the residence, 65-year-old David Millar and his 75-year-old sister Mary, were not found. This has led to fears that the siblings might have lost their lives in the fire.
There was a delay to the initial search of the farmhouse due to the danger posed by the damage to the building.
Once it was deemed structurally safe for the investigation to begin the search for evidence, the forensic team happened to come across the remains.
A spokesperson for the police said:
“Work is ongoing to identify the remains, which will be done through a forensic process.
“A specialist team of investigators, including police, fire, and forensic experts, have been searching the building since Monday and the work continues.”
Fire Awareness Training – Cambridge
The course was enlightening showing aspect I wouldn’t have thought of, excellent – Paul Washbourne
Very clear and concise presentation – Karl Fairweather