Northern Farmers & Landowners Group

News: April 2017

Date posted: 21/04/17

TAKE CARE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE THIS EASTER, URGES THE NORTHUMBERLAND FIRE GROUP

While the recent spell of good weather is good news for Easter holiday makers, the warm, dry spell does have its down sides, warns Angus Collingwood-Cameron, Chairman of the Northumberland Fire Group. “After a dry winter and this lovely sunny spring complete with drying winds, our moor and heathland vegetation is becoming very dry and we now have to worry about the risk of wildfire occurring.”

“With the long Easter weekend fast approaching, we will soon have many more people out enjoying themselves in our uplands and along our coast. I would urge everybody to really consider the risk of wildfire when out and about. Recent days have seen some significant wildfire incidents further south and we really don’t want any here. While devastating wildfires are normally associated with moorlands, our coastal zone is also a high risk area. Please do not light fires, including barbeques, unless in controlled areas. Properly extinguish any cigarettes and do not discard items that may cause fire, such as bottles. I must also strongly advise anyone against buying or using Chinese / Sky Lanterns. If you do see fire in the countryside, do please report it by telephoning 999.”

END

1. The Northumberland Fire Group (NFG) is a partnership between Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service (NFRS) and the land management community, both public and private.

2. Its aim is to reduce the impact of wildfires in Northumberland by raising awareness of the issue, improving wildfire fighting skills and increasing co-operative working between the NFRS and the land management sector.

3. Members of the NFG include NFRS, Forestry Commission, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northern Farmers and Landowners Group, Northumberland Estates, Ministry of Defence, Lilburn Estates, Natural England, National Trust and a number of other private landowners.

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