Climate change is making wildfires more common in Lancashire every year. With the threat of a wildfire increasing, now is the perfect time to protect your property. You can always check the current risk level of having a wildfire on the Met Office website.
You might think that wildfires are only a problem in Australia or the United States. But you would be wrong; we deal with many wildfires in Lancashire every year. These incidents do not only happen in the summer months.
Key areas of concern are the moors around Darwen and Rivington, as well as the sand dunes near Lytham St Annes. With temperatures rising, severe wildfires are more likely near to your property.
In Lancashire, losing your home to a wildfire is unlikely. But, there are still lots of ways you can reduce your risks of wildfires damaging your property.
The following actions will help you to protect your home from the risk of wildfire:
Stop any hot embers from entering your roof space by repairing any loose or broken roof tiles.
See where dead leaves collect around your home – like gutters – and clear them out.
Move any flammable materials away from your home, such as leaves, compost heaps and log piles.
Make sure that your home’s name or number is visible from the road. This will help the emergency services, including our firefighters, to locate you.
Avoid parking on or next to any fire hydrants – these are identifiable with a yellow ‘H’ plate.
Do not double park outside your home. This can hamper fire engines and other emergency vehicles from reaching you.
Many of us have worked hard to make our gardens beautiful spaces. We understand you might want to protect your garden from the risk of wildfire.
Follow this advice to reduce the chances of losing your garden:
Trim back growth any that’s close to or touching your home and dispose of cuttings in a responsible way.
Prune trees so that the lowest branches are six to ten feet above the ground.
Avoid disposing of cuttings by throwing them over your garden fence. This will add to the fire risk near your property.
Separate trees, bushes and items that could catch fire, like patio furniture.
During dry spells, consider using ‘grey’ (waste) water for watering plants and lawns. That way, even if there are limits on the use of hosepipes etc, the ground will be damp.
Consider the position of any garden sheds and their proximity to the property.
Use a fire-retardant paint on fencing and wooden structures.
Use caution when having barbecues and bonfires, and if using fireworks.
If you see what you think could be a wildfire, do not hesitate to report it. Call 999 straight away and give the operator as much information as you can. Please do not assume that someone else will already have reported it.
Do not try to fight the fire yourself. Injuries often occur when people try to do this. Instead, clear the area and allow access for our firefighters.
Avoid the area. If smoke affects you, keep all windows and doors closed.
You can learn more about wildfires on our dedicated webpage.
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