Heatwave blazes prompt fire service warning

Firefighters have urged people to be careful after being called out to more than a dozen garden fires, bonfires and fires in fields during the heatwave this week.

On Wednesday, 80% of a field at Craven Arms was lost to a fire which was later found to have been caused by the hot exhaust of a tractor.

On Monday, firefighters were called out to a field fire affecting an area of approximately 40m by 60m near Cleobury Mortimer.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service's area manager Scott Hurford said: "Open areas and fields are particularly dry during these weather conditions and therefore are highly flammable."

He asked people to avoid using disposable barbecues in flammable areas such as fields and dispose of cigarettes properly.

He also said farmers should be aware their machinery could quickly overheat during the hot weather and said they should ensure they allowed them to cool between uses.

"These small changes can a big bit difference in keeping Shropshire safe during the heatwave," he said.

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