Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is conducting patrols around popular lakes and surrounding areas in the county to educate the public on wildfires and water safety and extinguish any risks following the risk of wildfires being raised to ‘severe’ by the Natural Hazards Partnership.

Four fire crews will be visiting Windermere, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Blea Tarn, Coniston Water, Derwent Water, Buttermere, Crummock, Ullswater and Haweswater to reduce to risk of wildfires.

The crews will be talking to the public, educating them around water safety, the potential dangers of fire during heatwaves and dry spells and, where necessary, extinguish any open flames that they believe could be at risk of becoming a wildfire. Wildfires can burn for days and devastate vast areas of land, wildlife and threaten nearby communities if left to get out of control.

The public can help reduce their risk of starting a wildfire by:

• Extinguishing cigarettes properly and taking any cigarette ends home with them – do not dispose of them on the ground.
• Never throwing cigarette ends out of car windows.
• Avoiding using open fires.
• Not leaving bottles or glass in woodland – sunlight shining through glass can start fires (take them home and recycle them).
• Only using barbecues in a suitable and safe area and never leave them unattended. Disposable BBQs pose a high risk for wildfires – if one is used, ensure the flames are out, the tray is cooled and take your rubbish home with you to dispose of it sensibly.
• Reporting any fire you see in a rural area to the fire and rescue service immediately.

Michael Wilkinson, Station Manager for Prevention, for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have experienced some wildfires in Cumbria over the past couple of weeks so we want to make sure that, as a service, we are doing what we can to reduce the risk of additional fires in the Lakes.

“We want the public to enjoy the nice weather by the lakes and in the countryside, but we need everyone to understand the risks that open flames pose not only to the landscape but to communities and their lives.

“The aim of these patrols across the lakes is to engage with the public and provide them with information that could save their lives, either fire or water-related,  and save the environment so that everyone can enjoy the county whilst putting out any fires that we think could lead to a wildfire.

“I would urge the public to really think about any open flames when out and about over the weekend and if you do start or spot a fire, please call the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service on 999.”