Heathland fires rage after Britain’s hottest April on record

By Ben Mitchell and Mike Hornby, PA
5 May 2011
Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to battle heathland fires which have been burning in locations across the UK for several days. …
The hottest April on record, which saw only 21% of the expected rainfall in England and Wales, has caused vast areas of parched, tinder-dry land to go up in flames over the past week. … Strong winds and very little rainfall has hampered the efforts of hundreds firefighters and emergency workers, with helicopters being used to drop water in the worst-affected regions.
Crews in Northern Ireland have fought more than 1,000 gorse and forest fires in the past four days, in what chiefs said was the busiest time in 30 years. … Spokesman Dave Evans said: “With the increasing use of Chinese lanterns at wedding ceremonies and other celebratory events, the public needs to be aware that these lanterns have a number of associated problems. … He added: “The ground is currently so dry that we would urge anyone enjoying the countryside to take great care – it is extremely easy to cause a fire with a discarded cigarette or an unattended campfire.” Environment experts have warned of the damaging effects the fires will have on soil, vegetation and wildlife.
Dr Fred Worrall, from the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University, said there is a much higher chance of wild fires during this time of year as the vegetation is not fully green and burns more easily.
He said: “The great intensity of these wild fires destroys not only the surface vegetation but can burn into the soil causing much greater longer term damage.
“Compounding this is the fact that it is fledgling season and there are many ground-nesting birds, maximising the negative impact on the environment.” …

Heathland fires rage on across Britain