Readers' Letters: 'Extremely concerned' over Pinewoods fires

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I am extremely concerned by recent evidence of fire circles, book burning and disposable BBQs taking place in the Pinewoods and Valley Gardens. I have had to call the fire service myself a few times already this year to extinguish fires in these areas and I am told they have also attended several other calls there. It may be through simple ignorance and not knowing the danger of how easy it is for these fires to spread. A slight breeze and a fire, which was thought to be out can reignite, even over the following days. Just the heat from underneath a disposable BBQ can be enough to start a fire later. Unfortunately, it is also through sheer wanton destruction of these beautiful open spaces by some delinquents who know it is wrong but do it anyway. 

If I see smoke or an active fire, I call 999 immediately, as these fires can spread very quickly. The fire service has always been happy and very quick to attend. I give them a very precise location of the fire or where I can meet them, better still using the what3words app. If there are people around the fire, I would caution against approaching them as sometimes they can be quite aggressive.

I am sad to say this happens every year and I fear we could easily lose our beautiful Pinewoods and some of the Valley Gardens. Please help to protect them and don’t have naked flames in these areas. Please report everything you see to the appropriate authority police, fire service or North Yorkshire Council so they have a record of the problems.

Lyndon Wallace, Harrogate

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