Two fires in Sefton this week have given a clear reminder of how everyone can play a role in keeping the Borough flame-free. 

On Monday, a fire tore through a patch of grass at North Park in Bootle. It was barely a day later when Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the Hightown dunes to put out a fire that blazed for over two hours. 

Fortunately, both fires were put out before they could get out of control, as has been seen elsewhere in the country. 

Separate incidents on either side of the region – one in North Wales, the other in Greater Manchester – caused major wildfires recently. People across Merseyside reported seeing or smelling the resulting smoke. 

These were far from the only wildfires across the UK in the past week. With hot weather continuing, there remains a high risk of more occurring.

Don't roast our coast

That is especially true on Sefton’s coastline. It is a fragile habitat and a wildfire, which can carry on for days if they get out of control, can be fatal for the plants and animals living there. 

Sadly, Green Sefton rangers have recorded numerous fire-related deaths among those who call the coast home, which include natterjack toads, sand lizards, skylarks and a range of rare plant species. 

Green Sefton’s advice to those coming to the coast is: 

1. Please don’t bring barbecues to public beaches or green spaces. Any barbecue, especially disposable ones, carry a risk of starting a fire that can easily get out of control. 
2. Avoid starting any fire at all. The current dry climate could very easily cause a fire to spread quickly. 
3. Don’t leave anything behind. Something as seemingly insignificant as a piece of a broken glass can set off a fire with the sun’s rays concentrating through it. 

Barbecues, open fires and littering are all forbidden under the coastal Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). 

It’s not just grass that can be affected. Fires on the beach can superheat a patch of sand. This can then burn the feet of someone walking across it.

No sparks in the parks

What some people may not know is that the PSPO does not just cover beaches. Fires can cause havoc in a park just as easily as they can in the dunes, so barbecues and open fires do not belong in parks either, whether they are on the coast or further inland. 

Putting anything like a recently used disposable barbecue or cigarette in a public bin – even if they’ve been seemingly put out – is a potential danger. 

The same goes for woodlands, where a fire could easily spread between trees, and even in open countryside, where there is very little to stop a fire growing and spreading.

Don't let fire roam in the home

And staying safe around fire is just as vital at home. Merseyside Fire and Rescue suggests that the likes of fire pits and barbecues should stay well away from fences, sheds, gazebos or trees. 

It is important to always keep a watchful eye on barbecues and to never involve the likes of rubbish, tyres, plastics, petrol or paraffin around a fire. 

All residents and visitors can keep Sefton safe from fires by acting responsibly, taking rubbish away after visiting the coast or park, and reporting fires before they get out of control. 

Anyone who witnesses an uncontrolled fire should call 999 and ask for the fire service. Alternatively, they can call 101 if they spot someone starting a fire or barbecue in a coastal space or park. Informing a Green Sefton ranger, on-duty police officer or lifeguard is also a useful thing to do.

To learn more about the PSPO covering coastal areas, visit www.sefton.gov.uk/coastpspo.