Fire at Riverside Park a Timely Reminder of the Increased Risk

Published on: 18 Jul, 2022
Updated on: 23 Jul, 2022

Damage to the habitat can have a significant impact on local fauna, whose homes are affected, although the flora tends to recover quite quickly.

By Martin Giles

A fire at Guildford’s Riverside Park & Nature Reserve was a timely reminder of the increased risk of such instances in the current hot weather where much undergrowth has been dried out.

Firefighters obtaining water from the nearby lake.

Local resident Jim Allen caught the incident on camera.

A spokesperson for the Surrey Fire & Rescue Service said: “We received a call yesterday afternoon around 13.00 to a report of a fire at Riverside Park & Nature Reserve, Guildford.

An SFRS vehicle at the edge of the affected area of grassland.

“One fire engine was sent alongside some specialist vehicles, arriving at the scene around 13.10. A fire had broken out on the outdoor grassland, causing approximately 2,000 to 5,000 square metres of damage.

“Crews tackled the fire and after damping down the scene left around 14.50.”

The fire at Burpham comes against a background of warnings.

A report by the Wildlife Trusts – the UK’s sixth largest landowner – revealed half its reserves have more than 30 days of very high fire risk each year.

Surrey’s heathlands are at particular risk of wildfire from late spring.

The county has experienced serious blazes in recent years including at the wildlife-rich Ash Ranges, Chobham Common and at Bisley.

The most recent is estimated to have affected more than 500 hectares, and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service were on site for about three days.

Responses to Fire at Riverside Park a Timely Reminder of the Increased Risk

Jim Allen Reply

August 9, 2022 at 9:32 pm

We are collecting fire engines down here. 13 to date, August 9.

If you are in the reserve please no litter no smoking no barbeques.

And respect the parking restrictions in place both yellow lines and cones in the turning area. The fire engines need the space to enter the park.
Martin Elliott Reply

August 10, 2022 at 2:33 pm

Is it just me, or are these “timely reminders of increased risk” a bit later this ‘season’.

I’m sure warnings about a vast range of risks use to come from Local Authorities and Emergency Services from May or after a week without rain.

As I say, it’s just a perception, but if true, why?
- Jim Allen Reply
  
  August 12, 2022 at 11:22 am
  
  I’m just a mere resident constantly opening the gates for the fire engines. Nothing has come from the council.