Forest fire prompts fresh warning amid heatwave

Residents are being urged to take more care following an open-air fire in part of Nottinghamshire that has seen a series of serious blazes.

The forest fire at Sherwood Pines earlier this week came after a number of outdoor blazes in the Mansfield area as well as a deliberate fire at Oak Tree Nature Reserve in 2022.

An educational initiative has been launched at schools in the area in a bid to help protect heathlands from both deliberate and accidental fires.

Natasha Neale, community engagement and partnerships manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said she hoped the project would raise awareness and influence people's behaviour.

During a launch event for the Heathland Fire Prevention Education Project - which is due to run to March 2028 - the BBC was shown evidence of more recent fires at the same site.

One patch of land was burned about two months ago, while another was scorched within the last few days.

The fresh warnings come amid a heatwave that has seen record June temperatures recorded in the UK.

"We do see unfortunately across the county that disposable barbecues start a proportion of fires in the open," Neale said.

"Other things to be wary of is discarded cigarettes particularly if it's dry or we've had a prolonged period of dryness.

"Leaving rubbish, particularly glass bottles, on a hot, dry, sunny day, sunlight can be magnified through the glass and accidentally start a wildfire."

Sarah Rowley lives a short distance from an area of heathland that was devastated by the deliberate fire four years ago.

She said she worried some children did not understand "the devastation" a fire can cause to local wildlife and residential properties.

"You do worry that one little spark and it's going to take everything," she said.

"A little fire that they think is fun causes major disaster, especially with the heat we're getting now and the dryness, it spreads so fast."

Fire crews can now utilise an off-road firefighting vehicle which was added to the Nottinghamshire fleet in 2024.

Firefighter O'Brien Hesson said it allowed them to access rural and remote areas more quickly.

"It carries various firefighting mediums that allow us to tackle deep-seated fire. We've got one particular piece of kit called a misting lance which can get into the root of the fire," he said.

He urged people to be more mindful of the risk of fires, particularly in the summer months.

"Think of the ecosystem, think of the damage you're doing to wildlife, think of the effect it will have on your neighbours."

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