Showing posts with label fires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fires. Show all posts

Thursday, May 5, 2011

North wild fires 'under control'

4 May 2011 Last updated at 06:10 GMT Helicopter water bombing at Sheil Bridge. Pic: Ian Gordon A helicopter used to water bomb fires in the area around Sheil Bridge A series of wild fires which have been burning across the Highlands are now under control, firefighters have said.

Crews have been out overnight at the worst affected areas, including at Inverkirkaig near Assynt, Torridon and Glen Shiel.

After days of battling to control the flames, using both beaters and helicopters dropping water, the worst blazes have been extinguished.

Homes were evacuated over the past five days and the A82 was closed briefly.

Efforts will now get under way to assess the scale of the damage as forest regeneration projects, croft land and sensitive environmental sites with rare wildlife have all been hit.


View the original article here


This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Walkers warned of moorland fires

2 May 2011 Last updated at 02:32 GMT Fire on Anglezarke Moor Fire crews have been on Anglezarke Moor and Wheeton Moor since Friday Walkers are being warned to be vigilant as moorland fires continue to burn for a fourth day in Lancashire.

The county's deputy fire chief Paul Richardson said strong winds meant the fires could spread quickly putting walkers in danger without warning.

More than 150 firefighters have been tackling three separate moorland fires near Belmont, Bacup and Ormskirk.

All three incidents are ongoing and crews are expected to continue putting out the fires into Monday.

Mr Richardson said: "We are advising members of the public who are out on the moors during this period of hot and dry weather to take extra care and be vigilant.

"With strong winds, fires can move across the moors quickly, putting walkers in danger without giving them any warning.

"We are also urging all smokers to make sure that they discard their smoking materials safely and responsibly."

At one point 32 fire engines from the 39 stations in the county were out on calls, a Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said.

Crews from Merseyside, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire have also been involved in tackling the fires, which have been fanned by winds of up to 45 mph.

Drifting smoke

Firefighters have been at Belmont since Friday morning where a blaze spread to cover several square miles between Bolton and Chorley, on both Anglezarke Moor and Wheeton Moor.

Moorland fire More than 100 firefighters have been called to the moorland fire near Belmont

More than 100 firefighters, 18 fire engines and three specialists have been involved in the operation as well as the police helicopter, a fire and rescue helicopter, a mountain rescue team and United Utilities.

Specialist equipment was being used to transfer water from Anglezarke Reservoir to the fire.

A large amount of smoke has also been drifting from the moorland fire towards Chorley and people have been warned to avoid the area.

The cause of the blaze is not known but it is not thought to be suspicious.

On Saturday afternoon a second moorland fire broke out in about 48 hectares (120 acres) of peat at Whitemoss Horticulture at Simonswood near Ormskirk on Saturday.

The business supplies peat, compost and horticultural products to gardeners.

Large plumes of smoke were seen drifting into neighbouring areas, and people living nearby were being advised to stay indoors and keep all windows closed.

A third moorland fire which spread to cover two square miles was reported on Sunday afternoon at Moor Wind Farm in Stacksteads near Bacup.

Firefighters were using beaters and "back-held aqua packs" to put out the fires while water was being pumped from a nearby reservoir.


View the original article here


This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Lives at risk as gorse fires rage

2 May 2011 Last updated at 09:02 GMT Scene at the Mournes Flames and plumes of smoke have engulfed a large area of the Mourne Mountains The NI Fire and Rescue Service is under pressure after crews from nearly all of NI's 68 fire stations spent the weekend tackling gorse fires.

The worst are in the Mourne Mountains where crews continue to tackle blazes with flames as high as 40 ft. People have been urged to stay away, as it is very dangerous.

In Omagh, families had to flee their homes overnight because of a fire.

Most of the gorse fires are believed to have been started deliberately.

The NI Fire and Rescue Service said their resources were under strain.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Craig said they have been tackling 40ft flames that move "faster than people can run" in the Mourne Mountains.

The National Trust has warned that the fires will cause "immense damage" to the area.

The fire service said the blaze in the Mournes was one of the "most significant for many years".

It warned it did not have enough resources to put it out and maintain an acceptable level of cover elsewhere.

Firefighters from 60 of Northern Ireland's 68 stations attended the scene in the Mournes, along with other gorse fires in Tyrone, Fermanagh, Divis Mountain in Belfast and at the Glenshane Pass.

Ten fire appliances alone were called to a blaze in Rostrevor.

A number of roads in the Rostrevor, Hilltown and Kilbroney areas of south County Down were closed.

'At risk'

Mr Craig believes the vast majority of the fires have been started deliberately.

He said the people behind them were putting lives at risk.

"The key issue is they need to know their actions have consequences," he said.

"People out in the mountains enjoying the day are coming down facing a ferocious fire. One moment of what they consider fun could end in a tragedy.

"Somebody could lose their life."

In County Antrim, on the Cushendall Road, two miles from Ballycastle, police issued a warning on Sunday after a gorse fire made driving conditions extremely dangerous.


View the original article here


This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

'Immense damage' warning on fires

2 May 2011 Last updated at 03:23 GMT Scene of gorse fires in the Mourne Mountains The fire service in Northern Ireland says it has been battling flames as high as 40 feet The National Trust says gorse fires in the Mourne Mountains in County Down will cause "immense damage" as blazes continue around the UK.

Police in Northern Ireland are urging people to stay away from the affected area for several days.

Firefighters in Lancashire are tackling three separate moorland fires near Belmont, Bacup and Ormskirk.

Members of the public who are out on the moors in the dry weather have been warned to take extra care.

Firefighters from 60 of Northern Ireland's 68 stations are fighting gorse blazes.

Officials believe many of the fires were started deliberately. They say they could endanger lives, as resources are stretched and other calls for assistance cannot be responded to as quickly as usual.

More than 150 firefighters have been tackling the fires in Lancashire.

The bank holiday weekend has also seen fire crews being called into action in the Scottish Highlands and in parts of Wales.

The recent dry weather has been blamed for the spread of the fires.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

Read the terms and conditions


View the original article here


This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.