Firefighters have issued an urgent warning for people to be responsible during the hot weather after a huge blaze ripped through a Gateshead nature reserve.
Videos and photos captured by ChronicleLive show the devastating aftermath of the fire which broke out at Ryton Willows Nature Reserve at around 3pm on Wednesday. Scorched land and blackened trees are all that remain at the site after firefighters spent more than 20 hours tackling the massive grass fire, before managing to bring it under control by around 6.20am.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed they will never know what caused the fire as a result of its large scale, with the blaze spreading over 3.5km and putting nearby properties at risk. However, as temperatures continue to soar across the North East, fire bosses have called on the public to behave responsibly to reduce the risk of further fires starting.
READ MORE: Dozens of firefighters tackle huge Gateshead blaze with plumes of smoke seen across Tyneside
It comes as the service said that Wednesday evening was busier than Bonfire Night as they received a day’s worth of calls in just three hours and three times the amount of calls compared to the previous week. A total of 60 fires, including 16 grass fires, were attended by crews on Wednesday, including an allotment fire in Easington Lane, a wildfire in Witherwack, and a house fire in Sunderland.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Peter Heath is urging people not to use barbecues in the countryside, avoid setting bonfires and be careful of disposing cigarettes and glass bottles because of the dry conditions.
He said: “Although temperatures are not expected to reach the levels that we saw last month, the hot weather comes at a time where things are already tinder dry. This presents a serious increase in the chances of fire and rapid fire spread.
“Last night we saw a huge surge in calls and attended incidents where relatively small fires had been exacerbated by the heat and led to a much more challenging response. We want to ask the public to work with us and behave responsibly during the hot weather.
“It is important to take your rubbish away with you, particularly glass bottles or objects. These can concentrate sunlight and spark fires that put people’s lives at risk.
“Ultimately, the increased risk as a result of the tinder-dry conditions, coupled with deliberate fires in bins and public areas, adds a level of risk that is avoidable. With the continued support of local communities, we can keep everyone safe and may just save someone’s property.
“We also want to issue a timely reminder to behave responsibly around the water and make sure you are aware of some of the dangers that may be hidden beneath the surface.”
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