Firefighters in Merseyside have extinguished a large grass fire that broke out on grassland opposite Trawden Way in Litherland on Monday, July 20. The blaze, which involved grass and hay, was reported at 4:25pm, and four fire engines arrived at the scene within four minutes.
Firefighting Efforts
The fire measured approximately 300 metres by 500 metres. Fire crews divided the incident into sectors and used beaters and hose reel jets to fight the flames. By 5:12pm, the main body of the fire was extinguished, and crews continued to check for hotspots and dampen down the area.
Merseyside Police attended the scene to assist with road closures. The incident is now being scaled down, according to a spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, who stated: "Fire crews arrived to find a large fire involving grass and hay, around 300 by 500 metres in size. The incident was divided into sectors and fire crews fought the fire with beaters and hose reel jets, making good progress."
Recent Fires in the Region
This fire follows several other blazes in the area. On Friday evening, firefighters tackled a caravan fire in Maghull. Last week, a fire tore through a patch of grass at Bootle's North Park, and a day later, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service extinguished a fire at Hightown dunes that had been burning for more than two hours.
Green Sefton rangers have recorded numerous fire-related deaths of natterjack toads, sand lizards, skylarks, and rare plant species as a result of these fires.
Public Safety Warnings
Sefton Council is urging people not to bring barbecues to public beaches or green spaces and to avoid starting any fires, as the current dry climate could cause fires to spread out of control. Fires on beaches can superheat sand, burning the feet of anyone who walks across it. The council also warns against leaving items like broken glass, which can focus the sun's rays and start a fire.
Barbecues, open fires, and littering are prohibited under the coastal Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). Anyone who sees an uncontrolled fire should call 999 and ask for the fire service. To report someone starting a fire or barbecue in a coastal or green space, people can call 101.
The recent blazes in Sefton come after two wildfires in North Wales and Greater Manchester that left people across Merseyside and Cheshire smelling smoke in the air for days.
