BBQs have been banned in parks across Northumberland as temperatures hit record highs.
Temperatures north of 30 degrees in the county have meant an increased risk of wildfires, with the council announcing on social media that BBQs were banned for the foreseeable future. Residents and visitors are also being told not to light campfires or use barbecues in the national park or the countryside.
The latter guidance has been issued by Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Northumberland National Park, and Forestry England. Wildfires have occurred in Northumberland in cooler temperatures than the heatwave the North East is currently experiencing, with a blaze at Sweethope Lough burning for a week in April.
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Rob Stacey, Wildfire Lead at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We've had six wildfires already, which is more than in the whole of last year and we’re concerned the dry conditions could lead to more.
"Some of the fires have been big and covered large areas. We recently had one at Holy Island which has burned a site of special scientific interest."
Last year, the Co-op pulled disposable barbecues from its shelves from stores in or within a mile of Northumberland National Park, and the UK's 14 other national parks. The ban came shortly after more than 70,000 square metres of woodland were devastated by a fire at Kyloe Woods in north Northumberland, and Rob continued: "Our advice is simple - we urge those wishing to enjoy our beautiful countryside to take care and do so safely. Take a picnic, not a BBQ."
Commenting on the extreme weather warning issued by the Met Office, and urging visitors to take all litter home with them, Margaret Anderson, Senior Ranger at Northumberland National Park, said: "Please don’t light campfires or barbecues and consider bringing a picnic or supporting local cafes and businesses in the National Park instead. Follow the local advice and knowledge of Northumberland National Park Rangers and volunteers and pay close attention to visitor information on signs nearby.
"Leaving litter behind can lead to many problems – for example, broken glass left on the ground can cause a fire to start. It can take up to 48 hours for the ashes/embers from a disposable barbecue to cool down completely and even then, disturbing ashes can introduce oxygen and reignite smouldering ashes.
While it does not have the power to ban BBQs, the Northumberland Coast AONB organisation also posted on Facebook: "We can’t ban BBQs or fires on the coast in the AONB, but we are asking people not to light any kind of fire. The dunes and coastal grasslands are very dry."
On Monday afternoon, three blazes were 'exacerbated' by 'extremely high temperatures' in Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland. Thankfully, the fires were largely under control fairly quickly and nobody was injured in any of the incidents.
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