Accidental grassland fire seen for miles put out thanks to assertive action

We were called at 10.20pm on Sunday (26 April) to Hednesford Hills in Cannock following reports of a fire.

Three crews attended and found a fire on a grass bank.

An area of around 100 square feet of grass was involved in the fire.

Firefighters used two extended hose reel jets and one main jet to put the fire out.

Crews left the scene shortly after 1am on Monday (27 April).

The fire was deemed to have started accidentally.

Station manager, Derek Stoddart, who attended the scene, said: “There was nothing present at the scene to suggest it was deliberate.

“The fire, on heathland, involved both grass and gorse, with the gorse causing the height of the flames - which meant it could be seen from miles around.

“Thanks to safe, effective and assertive action by our crews, we were able to take control of the fire and stop it spreading.

“We were at the scene for approximately two hours, then dampening down the area, before re-inspecting the following morning.”

We are reminding people that there are a number of things you can do to prevent grass fires:

• Don’t have open fires or BBQs in the countryside – they can easily set fire to the ground and spread
• Keep matches and lighters out of children and young peoples' reach – talk to them about the dangers of starting fires outside.
• Discard of cigarettes appropriately – make sure they are put out properly and disposed of in dedicated bins and never throw cigarette ends out of car window
• Take your rubbish home or put it in a nearby bin – glass bottles can cause a fire when sunlight shines through so don’t leave them on the ground.

For more information on keeping safe from fires while outside, visit: Grass fire prevention.