Hednesford Hills blaze deemed 'accidental', fire service confirms

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that the hillside blaze on Hednesford Hill on Sunday night was caused accidentally.

Three crews were dispatched to the scene at around 10.20pm following reports that a fire had broken out on the hill.

On arrival, crews discovered the grassland fire, which involved around 100 square feet of foliage.

Firefighters quickly worked to extinguish the flames, using two hose reel jets and one main jet to quell the flames.

Crews left the scene shortly after 1am on Monday morning (April 27).

Following an investigation, the fire was deemed to have been started accidentally, with Station Manager Derek Stoddart, who attended the blaze, saying there were no signs that the blaze was started deliberately.

He said: “There was nothing present at the scene to suggest it was deliberate.

“The fire, on the heathland, involved both grass and gorse, with the gorse causing the height of the flames, which meant it could be seen from miles around.

“Thanks to safe, effective and assertive action by our crews, we were able to take control of the fire and stop it from spreading.

“We were at the scene for approximately two hours, then dampening down the area, before re-inspecting the following morning.”

The fire service has taken the chance to remind people of the dangers of outdoor fires, advising not to have open fires or BBQs in the countryside, and to keep matches and lighters out of young people’s reach.

See the fire service’s advice below:

• Don’t have open fires or BBQs in the countryside – they can easily set fire to the ground and spread.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children's and young people's reach – talk to them about the dangers of starting fires outside.
• Discard of cigarettes appropriately – make sure they are put out properly and disposed of in dedicated bins, and never throw cigarette ends out of the car window.
• Take your rubbish home or put it in a nearby bin – glass bottles can cause a fire when sunlight shines through, so don’t leave them on the ground.