Chase Road through Cannock Chase Country Park has been temporarily closed following a large wildfire started by a disposable barbecue. Staffordshire County Council closed the road from the Camp Road turning to Brocton Nursery to reduce the risk of smouldering areas reigniting. The closure is expected to remain in place until at least Monday 3 August, when it will be reviewed.
Crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Fire Service were called to the site in Brocton at 6pm on Thursday 30 July. Firefighters remained on site the following day to damp down hotspots across the area.
Damage to Protected Habitat
The fire scorched an area of heathland and moorland on Sherbrook Valley equivalent to the size of a football pitch. The site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). A number of reptiles and amphibians perished in the blaze, including adders and toads.
Council Warning on Barbecues
Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said: "We've taken the difficult decision to temporarily close Chase Road after crews dealt with a fire in the area last night. I was particularly sad to learn that animals lost their lives in the blaze, and a large amount of rare heathland habitat was lost.
"The fire service was fortunately able to bring the fire under control but we may not be so lucky next time, especially with the site being so close to irreplaceable veteran oak trees. Please stop bringing barbecues onto the Chase. This is the devastation they can cause.
"If you regularly use Chase Road, please make alternative plans for your journey over the weekend and we will update you as soon as it is safe for us to reopen the road again."
Disposable Barbecues Banned
Rich Williams, Group Manager at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, attended the fire. He said: "We believe this fire was caused by a disposable barbeque, which are banned on Cannock Chase due to the dangers that they pose.
"It is absolutely crucial that people adhere to this ban, as incidents like this place significant demand on resources during an already very busy period."
Summer Fire Safety Reminder
With the Environment Agency declaring a drought in the region, residents are being reminded to take extra care to avoid causing wildfires. This includes not lighting open flames or using barbecues in country parks and putting all litter into designated bins, especially glass which can start fires when hit by sunlight.