Road through Staffordshire country park hit by barbecue fire to stay closed for now

A road through Cannock Chase Country Park that has been shut for days after a fire tore through animal habitats will remain closed “until the wildlife severity risk lowers”, a council has said.

Part of Chase Road near Brocton was closed by Staffordshire County Council after the blaze ripped through a football pitch-sized piece of heathland in Sherbrook Valley on Thursday (July 30), killing protected wildlife including adders and toads.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Fire Service crews attended and extinguished the blaze; they determined that it was caused by a disposable barbecue.

With ground conditions still very dry following extended periods without rain, the county council has announced it will keep Chase Road closed for the time being “to protect wildlife, people's safety and nearby properties from potential wildfires”.

The closure will be reviewed every day then lifted once safe to do so, a council spokesperson said.

In the meantime, drivers are being urged to respect the road closures, plan their journeys and use alternative routes.

Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for communities and culture, said:"Keeping Chase Road closed is not a decision we made lightly but, with Cannock Chase currently being a high wildfire risk, we must prioritise the protection of our countryside.

"We'll share an update as soon as it's safe to reopen the route, and we'd like to thank everyone for their patience."

Last week's wildfire burned through a large amount of heathland and destroyed valuable habitats in Sherbrook Valley, which is a site of special scientific interest and a special area of conservation.

Councillor Coles continued: “This didn't need to happen. The fire, which destroyed precious heathland last week, was the result of irresponsible behaviour. When you're enjoying the Chase, help us to protect it by leaving barbecues at home and bringing picnics instead."

Everyone can do their part to help prevent wildfires in the countryside by:

• Not bringing barbecues or lighting open flames.

• Extinguishing cigarettes and putting them in bins.

• Taking rubbish home or using the bins provided.