FIREFIGHTERS in West Somerset have made an impassioned plea for people to stop lighting fires anywhere in the open after they tackled three blazes on the Quantock Hills in two days.

A spokesperson for Nether Stowey Fire Station said: “Please, please, please, refrain from having fires in the open anywhere on the Quantock Hills, anytime.

“The hills are very vulnerable to wild fires due to the very dry weather conditions we are experiencing.

“Please help us by not having any form of fire that could spread into a wildfire.

“Enjoy the weather and our beautiful area responsibly.”

The brigade was first called to a rapidly spreading large field fire beside the A39 near the village on the afternoon of August 10.

Crews from Nether Stowey and Bridgwater attended the incident, which had been accidentally started by farm machinery being used to cut grass.

The A39 had to be shut for a short time to keep the emergency services teams safe and allow them access to the field.

The crews quickly brought the fire under control with the help of a farmer, using a high pressure hose reel jet, two beaters, three powder fire extinguishers, and a telehandler.

Two days later on the morning of August 12, the Nether Stowey firefighters were called to a fire in the open reported to be near Triscombe Stone, on top of the Quantocks.

The crews used the station’s Land Rover to search for the outbreak and eventually found a fire which had been left unattended and quickly put it out.

While still at Triscombe, they were immediately mobilised to another fire at Crowcombe Park Gate which had been spotted by a walker.

This time, the fire had been extinguished before the firefighters reached the scene, but they stayed in the area for fire safety reasons and to offer advice to the public.

Forestry England, which operates the popular Quantocks visitor location Ramscombe Great Wood, has banned barbecues at any of its sites because of the hot and dry weather,

A spokesperson said: “Single use barbecues are particularly dangerous.

“They tend to get left behind, causing litter, or, worse, a fire.

“Stick to a picnic and never light a barbecue or fire in the forest.”

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) spokesperson said people could help to prevent wildfires by not having campfires or barbecues in the countryside and only using them in designated safe areas.

They said people should discard cigarettes carefully and never throw butts on the ground or out of car windows.

Glass in direct sunlight could cause fires, so people should ensure there was none lying around.

Bonfires should be avoided in dry weather, and if one had to be lit then people should follow DSFR’s bonfire safety advice.

The spokesperson said: “Many wildfires are started deliberately or are due to careless, reckless, or irresponsible behaviour.

“If you see or suspect somebody of acting suspiciously, recklessly, or irresponsibly in the countryside, contact the police on 101 or pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”