European fires

We had a number of fires here (London/Essex border) last week.

It's a very dry part of the country at the best of times, and 19 houses in the borough were destroyed by fire during a heatwave in 2022.

Last weekend I heard fireworks being set off in back gardens on two occasions at gone midnight.

It doesn't surprise me that the French authorities have said 90% of their wildfires are the result of human activity.

Jennifer Eccles - I think Nanna8 may have missed your query. Yes, we do have prescribed burns to mitigate the risk of wildfires, but it's quite controversial because of the damage it causes to native fauna and flora. The "Power People" are at last realising that the Aborigines do know what they are talking about and beginning to take advice from them, but it's a slow process.

I honestly do not know enough about French or Spanish forests to know whether there are sufficient fire breaks in them.

One thing that governments could do, would be to ban the sale of disposable barbecues.

Obviously, just banning their use or the lighting of fires out-of-doors during heatwaves is never going to be enough, for there is no way forests, heaths etc. can be patrolled to check that people are actually obeying bans on open fires, camp-stoves, barbecues etc. during heat-waves.

Teaching school-children how to vehave responsibly on trekking or camping trips might do some good. After all, our generation were taught as girl guides or boy scouts how to safely light fires and put them out when on camping trips, to always break used matches in two and stick the ends of them down into the ground and either to bury rubbish or take it with us to the nearest bin.

Perhaps it is time for an enormous advertising campaign for fire prevention?

We had one here, caused by the explosion of those awful cannisters that the kids sniff and left lying in the grass.

It was a bit lucky that the place they had chosen was not far from the river. It took several fire engines and 2 days to finally put it out, although they contained the spread within hours, and kept it from the nearby houses.

Quite alarming, but thankfully it was not where they also go which is close to me and not near the water. We are now officially in drought.

One of my daughters lives in Southern Spain as does my school friend who I have known almost 60 years, so I have been following the news as it comes through. Luckily neither of them have been badly affected so far, so keeping my fingers crossed. I really am baffled by the thought that anyone could actually start these fires on purpose. If anybody dies they should be arrested and charged with manslaughter at the very least.

missdeke

One of my daughters lives in Southern Spain as does my school friend who I have known almost 60 years, so I have been following the news as it comes through. Luckily neither of them have been badly affected so far, so keeping my fingers crossed. I really am baffled by the thought that anyone could actually start these fires on purpose. If anybody dies they should be arrested and charged with manslaughter at the very least.

Indeed. Beggars belief doesn't it.I always wonder if any of these people get caught out by their own fires.
Probably not.

Uncountable human and wildlife deaths.

We live very close to the city centre and we were able to smell the burnt wood and pine.

We both have had to avoid the constant news.

Our tears could of put the fires out !

Take care and avoid Spain at this time and the endangered areas of France and The U.K.

missdeke

One of my daughters lives in Southern Spain as does my school friend who I have known almost 60 years, so I have been following the news as it comes through. Luckily neither of them have been badly affected so far, so keeping my fingers crossed. I really am baffled by the thought that anyone could actually start these fires on purpose. If anybody dies they should be arrested and charged with manslaughter at the very least.

In France the French PM said 162 arrests have been made. If found guilty and charged they are given 15 years in prison.

MartavTaurus

missdeke

One of my daughters lives in Southern Spain as does my school friend who I have known almost 60 years, so I have been following the news as it comes through. Luckily neither of them have been badly affected so far, so keeping my fingers crossed. I really am baffled by the thought that anyone could actually start these fires on purpose. If anybody dies they should be arrested and charged with manslaughter at the very least.

In France the French PM said 162 arrests have been made. If found guilty and charged they are given 15 years in prison.

Good to know., thank you.

nanna8

I remember in a bad bushfire year seeing glowing embers flying overhead and we were many kms away from the fires. The wind was picking them up and transporting them to way beyond the source. Very frightening. Sometimes by the time they tell you to evacuate it is too late and the roads become blocked with falling trees.

My GDD is a volunteer fire fighter on OZ and has been out regularly making fire breaks around properties, including her own. Hope you have a cool summer and light winds. nanna8

There are at least 2,200 wildfires across the world right now. Mostly exacerbated by the heat and lack of rainfall. If we don’t do more to address climate change this will be a yearly occurrence at some point. There are at least 3 wildfires in the UK. In the next hot dry spell it could increase, no-one is safe.

Why have you started two thread about this Nana8 I replied on your other thread and had to look twice to see why it wasn’t showing up

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70g1602l1no

This is not too far from me and has been so bad, so much wildlife will be lost, there are wild horses there I hope they are safe