Fires
- Thread starter carthorse
- Start date
It is horrid. I feel like the end of the world is nigh. I hate all this scary news. Stay safe everyone if you are close by disaster.
All safe here, it’s really worrying though. We’ve had several within a few miles of home, it’s sadly common here but luckily they’re normally brought under control pretty quickly. But there’s also 2 heaths currently alight here in Suffolk, one is 150 hectares so far 
The search and rescue team I’m with have gone out to that one this evening, I’m waiting to hear if they want more people (I was riding when the initial call came in).
Riding on Monday night I came across a fire in the forest, it had been put out earlier in the day (I later learned) but was smouldering and smoking again. Monkey is completely unphased by fires (sadly quite experienced with them now after finding a few), and calmly continued along through the edge of the burnt area, through the smoke (it made me nervous!), once we got out onto a bigger track at a safe distance I called it in to 999 and they came quickly and put it out again.
The search and rescue team I’m with have gone out to that one this evening, I’m waiting to hear if they want more people (I was riding when the initial call came in). Riding on Monday night I came across a fire in the forest, it had been put out earlier in the day (I later learned) but was smouldering and smoking again. Monkey is completely unphased by fires (sadly quite experienced with them now after finding a few), and calmly continued along through the edge of the burnt area, through the smoke (it made me nervous!), once we got out onto a bigger track at a safe distance I called it in to 999 and they came quickly and put it out again.
The hill went up about 20 years ago, before we started grazing it. Burned a very large area. It had many years of built up thatch. Since then it was kept short by the year round grazing we did. Since they chucked us off and went to autumn/winter grazing regime. There is alot more growth in the summer, theres not enough grazing pressure clearing the dead thatch off. The brambles and scrub is encroaching back again and there not keeping up with cutting it. The hill actually looks green but a few more years of not managing it and it will be a real risk.
Have to say I'm a bit worried about my own fields now. My land was ok. The long grass meant it was keeping the ground protected from the sun so we had bottom in the grazing. But we've gone so long without rain now that even the bottom has died. The ground next to the public footpath is green under the trees so i think it would be safe from a tossed cigarette. However, if someone got over the fence and deliberately set light to the grass then I'm in trouble. My whole 20 acres would go up goven theres lots if long stuff that is tinder dry. Very worrying as we get lots of teens and 20-30 years old who come and hang out on the hill and love to do naughty things.
Have to say I'm a bit worried about my own fields now. My land was ok. The long grass meant it was keeping the ground protected from the sun so we had bottom in the grazing. But we've gone so long without rain now that even the bottom has died. The ground next to the public footpath is green under the trees so i think it would be safe from a tossed cigarette. However, if someone got over the fence and deliberately set light to the grass then I'm in trouble. My whole 20 acres would go up goven theres lots if long stuff that is tinder dry. Very worrying as we get lots of teens and 20-30 years old who come and hang out on the hill and love to do naughty things.
I did a shift at Dunwich Heath over night with SAR, supporting the firefighters by flying thermal imaging drones to identify hot spots for them.
The devastation is so vast, it took almost 8 minutes to drive from one end to the other and it looks like the moon, all black and grey and completely barren. It’s really sad for the animals, but lots survived, we saw rabbits hopping about, insects everywhere and heard nightjars and other birds, but with all their food gone they will probably move away at best
The devastation is so vast, it took almost 8 minutes to drive from one end to the other and it looks like the moon, all black and grey and completely barren. It’s really sad for the animals, but lots survived, we saw rabbits hopping about, insects everywhere and heard nightjars and other birds, but with all their food gone they will probably move away at best
There is an awful smell and thick smog here today. Apparently its the wildfires from right over in Wales.
I've got a headache and a sore throat breathing it in.
Just looked up its at least 70 miles away.
I've got a headache and a sore throat breathing it in.
Just looked up its at least 70 miles away.
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It finally cleared here about 3pm.
But im looking over towards Wales now and there's a smog line appeared which wasn't there a couple of hours ago so I think wind direction has changed again.
Cant see any updated reports as to whether its still burning.
But im looking over towards Wales now and there's a smog line appeared which wasn't there a couple of hours ago so I think wind direction has changed again.
Cant see any updated reports as to whether its still burning.
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