Residents urged to help prevent wildfires

Four disposable barbecues led to a grass fire in Box Hill earlier this month

Residents are being urged to take steps to prevent wildfires as the weather warms up, after a fire broke out at a nature reserve.

Earlier this month, a grass fire at Box Hill caused by four disposable barbecues damaged the popular spot, putting wildlife and people at risk, Surrey Fire & Rescue said.

Between 2023 to 2024, firefighters were called to more than 550 wildfires in the county.

The National Trust and the fire service have joined forces to encourage residents to help prevent wildfires "by banning BBQs and taking litter home when visiting National Trust sites".

Stephanie Fudge, National Trust general manager for the Surrey Hills, said: "Box Hill isn't just a beauty spot, it's a remarkable nature reserve.

"You can see from the images that an acre of rare and delicate chalk grassland has been destroyed by the fire and will take many years to recover."

The fire service said wetter winters and drier summers meant wildfires were becoming more of a risk, and were common in Surrey due to large parts of heathland near urban areas.

The fire service said between 2023 to 2024, it responded to 577 wildfires in Surrey

Fire investigation officer and wildfire expert Matt Oakley said: "Wildfires are easy to start and spread very quickly, often through BBQs not being extinguished properly, litter left on commons or heaths, or cigarettes being thrown out of cars or left on the ground."

The fire service and National Trust are asking people to dispose of smoking materials properly, not to have open fires in the countryside, and to switch from BBQs to picnics instead.

They also advise clearing out areas with lots of vegetation or piles of leaves at home.

Ms Fudge added: "We need your help to save Box Hill from fire and the countryside places we all love so much."

'Specific on locations'

The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning for most of England because of persistent warm weather.

Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said strong winds and the ongoing dry and warm weather brought a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions.

She added: "It's a large England warning, covering most of England.

"We can't be specific on locations due to the nature of wildfires though."

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