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Firefighters slam ‘careless’ people responsible for devastating blaze at beauty spot

When will people learn?!

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 5th August 2024

Firefighters have, once again, called out irresponsible people after a section of the Peak District was ‘devastated’ by a fire.

Images shared by local fire crews showed a section of the beauty spot burned, charred and smoking – and at the heart of the blaze, a disposable barbecue.

Glossop Fire Station said that preventable blazes like this take resources away from life-risking emergencies.

They also stressed that while it may be a nice summer barbecue to us, it’s ‘devastating’ for the local wildlife whose habitats are lost.

The fire was quickly contained but as many of us remember from the devastating scenes of 2018, moorland blazes can spread quickly.

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And the local teams have used this near miss as an opportunity to remind people not to light or use disposable barbecues in the countryside.

Glossop Fire Station wrote on Facebook: “Please act responsibly! Do not light a bbq on the moors or open countryside!

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Woodhead in the Peak District was left in this state after a fire caused by a disposable barbecue. Credit: Facebook, Chapel on Call Fire Station
Woodhead in the Peak District was left in this state after a fire caused by a disposable barbecue. Credit: Facebook, Chapel on Call Fire Station

“To you it may be a summer evening bbq with family or friends! To the wildlife whose habitat is lost, its devastation!

“To us, the firefighters and emergency services responding to put out the fire that you so carelessly started, intentionally or not, it takes our resources away from being available for life risk emergencies.

“So please think! Please act responsibly. Don’t take a bbq, pack a picnic, enjoy the great outdoors but leave our beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.”

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Chapel On Call Fire Station also said, with a photo of the disposable barbecue on the burnt ground: “Last night, ourselves Whaley Bridge Fire Station and Glossop Fire Station responded to a moor fire on Woodhead. After arriving and walking onto the moor, this is what we found…”

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Featured image: Facebook, Chapel On Call Fire Station