Firefighters scale down large woodland fire

Firefighters who have worked to extinguish a woodland fire will return later to ensure the area is safe.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the fire on Stapleford Moor, near Norton Disney, at 18:32 BST on Monday.

Six appliances were at the scene during the peak of the blaze, the service said, with hose reels and beaters used. Efforts have since been scaled down to three appliances.

The service said the fire covered an area approximately two and a half acres (10,000 sq m) of woodland, grassland and undergrowth.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to assist with extinguishing the fire at 07:39 BST on Tuesday.

Stapleford Moor, which is on the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire border, is a 131-hectare woodland site.

Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire on Wednesday, David Lynch, area manager for prevention at protection at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said the incident had been "scaled down significantly" since Monday.

He said: "You can imagine these fires are inherently difficult to extinguish.

"Our crews are returning back this morning to do a final sweep to ensure that everything is safe then the incident should be closed."

Lynch warned that "the tiniest of sparks can cause a significant fire" and advised people to use designated areas for barbecues, and not on areas of grassland.

He added: "The public just need to understand the risk. Having a barbecue outside is fantastic but just do it sensibly.

"People would be astonished at the speed at which these fires can spread."

A spokesperson for Forestry England, which manages the nation's forests including Stapleford Moor, said the fire had affected about one hectare of its woodland.

On Tuesday, they said: "Currently, the visible fire is extinguished but we continue to work with the teams at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service as the fire is still burning underground.

"The site will be monitored by both Forestry England and the fire service until we can confirm that the fire is fully out.

"At that point we might be able to start to understand what level of damage to the root systems might have occurred."

The fire service said the cause of the fire had not yet been identified, but Forestry England said it was possible it could have been caused by someone using a barbecue or campfire.

"Extreme heat and dryness means the risk of wildfires is currently very high, so we want to remind everyone barbecues or campfires are not permitted in our forests," the spokesperson added.

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