The National Trust has issued an urgent warning for visitors to avoid a section of Formby beach in Merseyside after a wildfire ripped through the coastline, leaving the ground scorched and potentially hazardous.
Fire under control but ground remains hot
Although the fire is now under control, the National Trust, which manages Formby beach and the nature reserve in the dunes, has warned that the ground will 'stay hot for days' and must be avoided. The beach is highly popular in the north west, attracting locals from Liverpool as well as visitors from Manchester and Preston, as it is one of the closest beaches to these major cities.
Crews battled significant blaze
Six fire crews responded to a 'significant' blaze on the sand dunes on Wednesday evening (August 12), tackling a fire that spread across an area approximately 500 metres by 200 metres, affecting sand dunes and gorse during the heatwave. Fire crews used beaters and hoses, with extended hose lines stretched across substantial distances to secure water supplies. Strong winds drove the fire through dense gorse, creating challenging conditions.
An MFRS drone was deployed to provide an aerial perspective, and a fire engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, along with an MFRS off-road vehicle, were also mobilised.
Ongoing safety risk and ecological concerns
The National Trust announced that the scorched land now poses an ongoing safety risk. In an official statement, the charity confirmed that its ranger team had been working alongside MFRS to evaluate the damage. The statement said: "It's still too early to understand the full extent of the fire's impact, but we'll be closely monitoring this ecologically significant habitat and its affected species over the coming months."
The statement added: "While the fire is now out, the scorched ground will remain hot for several days, so we ask visitors to avoid the area for their own safety."
Caution urged along the Sefton Coast
The National Trust also urged visitors to the Sefton Coast to exercise additional caution during the current hot, dry spell. Visitors were reminded to ensure cigarettes are completely stubbed out, and that barbecues and open fires should never be lit along the coastline. The organisation added: "We'd like to thank Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for their quick response and hard work in containing and extinguishing the fire."
