Wildfires are really upsetting me

Me too- we are used to seeing fires on the other side of the world in warmer, dryer climates. And as upsetting as it always is, to see the wildlife suffer and people losing their homes- seeing it all on our doorstep is altogether really unsettling and upsetting.

I think the bbq thing is all about being outside, I can understand that, but forests, dunes and heathland are not compatible with cooking fires.
My friend here in France is a drone pilote and has shot some amazing videos of the forest on fire from above. The local effort on the ground is amazing- firefighters, farmers etc.
So sad to see landscapes and wildlife destroyed. Very worrying.

Food should always be cooked on proper barbeques, not these ridiculous foil tins which are not only dangerous but environmentally very unfriendly. The people who use them leave them lying around to start fires in the woods, or bury them in the sand which can seriously burn a child's feet. ? (angry face with horns!)

Forlornhope

Chestnut

Just spotted this. Tesco, M&S, Asda, Sainsbury and Ocado have stopped selling them which is a start.
Disposable barbeques not being sold

Well done those stores! I’ve never understood why folk feel they must rush out and cook over a furnace on the hottest days of the year whether in the garden or on a picnic. It doesn’t make sense to me.

Oh I don’t know, I love a good bbq! Last night, after a really hot day, it was wonderful sitting on my patio as the sun went down with a cooling breeze and a bbq hot dog would have gone down very well. I had to make do with some cheese and grapes with my gin and tonic.

Chestnut

Just spotted this. Tesco, M&S, Asda, Sainsbury and Ocado have stopped selling them which is a start.
Disposable barbeques not being sold

Well done those stores! I’ve never understood why folk feel they must rush out and cook over a furnace on the hottest days of the year whether in the garden or on a picnic. It doesn’t make sense to me.

My thermometer is showing 110F - in the shade (in France) - too hot to do anything although my DH and our guests are going out to look at some antique shops. Storms on their way, starting tomorrow thank goodness.

On a more serious note the wild fires here in parts of France have devastated thousands of acres of woodland. There's been a suggestion that one or two have been started by volunteer firemen who are pyromaniacs.

Here in South Hampshire we’ve had fires, fire brigade have just managed to stop a wild fire from spreading - literally just down the road from me. It’s so hot then when we come back from taking the dog for a walk we can feel the heat from our bricks as we approach our front door.
Also, I can’t open one of the kitchen windows - not sure if it’s melted shut and I’m reluctant to ‘give it some welly’ in case the glazing cracks! Will try when it’s cooler. It’s currently 29.4 in the coolest room with curtains closed and fan going!

I nipped outside to bring my washing in - no breeze and like a furnace! ??

Keep safe everyone x

The damage to crops is devastating and is bound to push up prices even more. Wildlife loses its natural habitat if not its life. The atmosphere gets polluted. The fire service are stretched enough without this added danger.

We moved house 6 years ago and now live quite close to a cycle trail which has natural hedging either side and open fields and woodlands beyond; it worries me whenever the wind is in a specific direction, one carelessly discarded cigarette, one shard of glass caught by the suns rays, one idiot with a BBQ or even worse someone deliberately starting a fire.

I can't believe it but some idiots had a firework display locally. If they are not careful, the "display" will cover miles and include houses. As we are aware, it only takes one spark.

Just spotted this. Tesco, M&S, Asda, Sainsbury and Ocado have stopped selling them which is a start.
Disposable barbeques not being sold

I think that we are all upset and some people are also frightened.
Those who live next door to a field, for example, when the combine turns up. Occasionally the machines can cause a fire but perhaps not as frequently as in days gone by.

No matter how stupid people are their stupidity never fails to amaze me. I just want to slap them! And disposable barbeques should be banned and made illegal. I think there is a movement towards doing that, but it's too late for this summer.

The wildlife - doesn’t bear thinking about.