The Metoffice Fire Severity is forecasting elevated risk of WildFires in areas around the North and East of Penrith including Penrith Beacon and the Fells over the next 24hours.
There is then a further large swathe of orange, representing 'very high' covering parts of the Lake District with areas around Haweswater forecast as a 'high' risk.
The warnings for Thursday afternoon and Friday morning come as the UK is set to face its warmest day of the year so far. Penrith Fire crews along with fire crews from Shap and Appleby have already worked to prevent a wildfire from spreading after a wildfire broke out near Shap on Wednesday.
Shortly after mid day on Wednesday crews from Shap and Penrith as well as a wildfire crew requested from Appleby, were mobilised to Ralfland common west of Shap. On arrival crews were met by local farmers who assisted in transporting and directing crews to the scene due to difficult access. A fire covering approximately 100m x 300m was well alight on arrival and was dealt with using beaters and scotty back packs.
A spokesperson from Shap fire station said “This is the first wildfire of the year for the crew and unfortunately looking at the amount of dead vegetation and fire loading that covers the uplands in our area I fear it may not be the last. It’s clear to see that the management or rather lack of, across the counties uplands in recent years is having a huge impact on increasing the risk of wildfire. Landlords and other organisations forcing farmers hands in the removal of sheep, the very people and animals that have helped shape the beauty of these areas that we know and love. All that we see now are increasing vast acres of dead brown ground with the potential for serious harm, undoing any good they feel they are doing for nature or the environment.”
“Please take care and pay respect to these uplands if you’re out walking and enjoying them. Avoid the use of naked flames and be careful discarding cigarettes. It really doesn’t take much to cause serious damage and a moments carelessness can lead to days of firefighting in some cases, tying up a huge number of resources which would otherwise be available to people in need. Todays fire could have been a whole lot worse”.
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