Saddleworth Moor arsonist.

In the notorious summer of 76 we took a trip on the Bluebell line steam train.

They provided us with large ‘paddles’ and the train had to stop now and again and people had to jump off and thwack the smouldering corn and grasses along the line!

It was a salutary reminder that the good old days had some drawbacks.

It appears to be a ban for a week issued by Network Rail.
It would be a terrible loss all round.. may end up being in hot weather only, but all the heritage lines...😢

Steam locomotives have been banned because of the danger of sparks setting fires.

This will be a real problem for all those heritage railways who need the money their train services raise to keep going. Most have diesel shunters and some diesel engines, but I hope the government will have some kind of compensation scheme.

Can't believe I have just read this correctly. Cumbria Council have voted against a ban on sky lanterns and balloon releases. Really?!I wonder what the fire and emergency services think or that.Not to mention the farmers.

The country side has always been covered in litter left by visitors. It is just that nowadays so much more picnic stuff is shop bought and in packaging that picnics and the like generate more litter and because somany people have cars they can leave that litter in more and more remot spots

I have recently been reading a Lord Peter Wimsey novel written in the early 1930s and one of the bodies is left in a litter strewn beauty spot in Epping Forest.

I think there is a sense of entitlement when it comes to some people visiting areas of natural beauty, they leave their litter which can injure or even kill wildlife and will set off fireworks or not use bbqs safely.

It’s because they don’t see the countryside and our wild places as an asset to be treasured and nurtured. They see it as something that doesn’t fulfil their ideal, so it simply doesn’t matter to them. “Nothing material here to worry about, folks. Do what you like.” Appalling. Not the way I was brought up, o my children. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Fireworks should be banned, as should disposable bbq's and no barbeques at all in drought conditions. Bonfires too. Those lanterns are another thing that should be banned also. I remember as a child I was playing with matches and set fire to our family garden, as my friends and I had built a den out of hedge clippings. Luckily my Dad put it out but it got out of hand so easily and quickly. I think of all those poor people, farmers, animals and of course our environment. As for the young lady concerned - she does need to be made an example of

As they are causing so much devastation, I think these disposable barbecues should be outlawed…

Update the crews are still there 3 days now due to smouldering remnants that could erupt again, there is a call to shopkeepers not to sell disposable BBQs

Iam64

The big question is why so many people either fail to understand risk, or don’t care

I think there is a sense of entitlement when it comes to some people visiting areas of natural beauty, they leave their litter which can injure or even kill wildlife and will set off fireworks or not use bbqs safely. Not sure when this began but it is certainly a problem that will get worse now schools are breaking up and families are descending on our beauty spots in their thousands. I recall going to the Lake District once and seeing tourists standing in the front garden of a quaint little cottage staring through the window and taking photos. Was unbelievable.

Sorry didn't meant put whole news on and can't delete

share.google/I2ijA1jksog3LaBIi

Same as last year ,human activity

Sometimes it takes years for the greenery to recover if at all. That is not saying how much wildlife is affected with their homes destroyed. They suffer enough with the destruction of their homes with buildings etc.
Added to that not least is the poor firemen who have to put their lives at risk battling the blaze

The big question is why so many people either fail to understand risk, or don’t care

In a park near us in London one of those disposable barbacue sets started a fire that thankfully was easily put out by the fire brigade but with winds now fanning any flames I do think that these sets should be banned for the time being.

Disposable BBQ discarded with glowing embers they believe,,,distroyed woodland and wild life, they are looking to ban them in public places ,what do you think?
Killarney national Park

eazybee

Two rather entitled boys set fire to a woven wicker structure, made by their fellow pupils at their school, and were identified by their friends.
When asked why one said, "Well I lit a match and held it against the straw to see what would happen".
Difficult to guard against such stupidity.

So true!

eazybee

Two rather entitled boys set fire to a woven wicker structure, made by their fellow pupils at their school, and were identified by their friends.
When asked why one said, "Well I lit a match and held it against the straw to see what would happen".
Difficult to guard against such stupidity.

Are you sure this answer was caused by stupidity?

One retired school-mistress here, feeling it sound more like cheekiness!

Zero sympathy for this monumentally selfish woman and her friends. I live nearby and they have caused untold devastation. They filmed themselves driving recklessly whilst inhaling nitrous oxide and laughing whilst they set off fireworks and the moors caught fire.I'm beyond angry and upset at the loss of our beautiful countryside,wildlife not to mention the smoke and damage to people's health.Next thing you know some idiots will be organising a balloon release as well as it all started because a friend died in the resevoir despite repeated signs and warnings not to enter.I hope she gets a serious conviction. It is arson a d nothing less.

Yes fireworks in commemoration of a friend. She could still be charged with risk to life but could be criminal damage, a serious offence

From what I heard this was not deliberate fire setting,but setting off of fireworks or something similar. The sort of thing some youngsters do without thinking things through

We can smell those fires here in NW Cheshire as the prevailing wind is from the east. It’s enough to sting my eyes and give me a mild headache, yet we are miles away. I feel sorry for people who are nearer to these fires as the effects must be awful. It’s so hot that it already feels as if there is not enough oxygen. So, as devastating as the environmental damage is there is also a human cost and a price to be paid by the NHS who will be dealing with people whose lives are being threatened by the contamination of the air caused by these fires.
So whether they were started maliciously or by ignorance and selfishness I hope the perpetrators receive a long prison sentence which, hopefully, will act as a deterrent.
But, my total respect goes to the brave firefighters, battling these blazes and putting their lives at risk.

ixion

Perhaps an appropriate punishment in these cases would be long shifts as beaters with the fire services.

Reap, sow and all that.

Constructive idea but the downside is that they would likely end up trotting to their GP claiming to have developed anxiety issues.

And there's probably a DWP benefit for that.

And there's the added risk, coming up, of the school holidays and bored teens deliberately starting grass fires "for somefink to do......"

What level of IQ do these types have?

Yes, fire has to be the most frighteningly unpredictable of the elements and the legal punishment should reflect that.

Preferably mandatory incarceration as opposed to any 'smack-on-the-wrist' Community Service litter-picking order.

My daughter and her husband and young children lost everything in a bushfire which razed their home to the ground. I have totally no sympathy for these bozos who light fires . I don’t care if they are mentally ill or whatever, they should be jailed.