Crews at scene of Peak District wildfire were 'asked for lighter'

[paul]

Firefighters said they were "shocked" after being asked for a lighter near the scene of a wildfire that damaged a large area of moorland.

Crews from Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester attended the fire, which broke out at Snake Pass Summit on 30 April.

The blaze, which affected 900,000 sq m (9.69m sq ft) of land, took five days to bring under control.

Crew members from Glossop Fire Station visited the scene on Wednesday as the scene was returned to the National Trust, when they said they were asked if they had a lighter or match by a member of the public as "they were going camping and wanted a fire".
A spokesperson for the station said the team were shocked to be asked and said the individual was educated on wildfires and what crews had been dealing with.

They added: "Wildfires not only destroy our beautiful countryside, they destroy vital habitat for our wildlife.

"They are labour intensive and take vital emergency services away from being available to respond to other emergencies."

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said there was a "significant smoke plume" at the height of the fire, adding about 340 hectares of moorland had been affected overall.

From: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k2grjx3x5o

 

[Lankyman]

From: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k2grjx3x5o

I do wonder if there was an element of wind up 'humour' from the asker there? I recall many years ago when we were young and full of it sitting in Bernie's Café in Ingleton. A member of our club spotted a certain then head of the CRO and announced loudly that we better hurry up and get underground quickly before we got wet. It was hammering down outside. Another teenage 'wheeze' was walking up a hill and knowingly mis-identifying all the surrounding hills to wind up the oldies there. I am now that oldie!
Then again, he was probably just a prat.

 

[langcliffe]

I do wonder if there was an element of wind up 'humour' from the asker there? I recall many years ago when we were young and full of it sitting in Bernie's Café in Ingleton. A member of our club spotted a certain then head of the CRO and announced loudly that we better hurry up and get underground quickly before we got wet. It was hammering down outside. Another teenage 'wheeze' was walking up a hill and knowingly mis-identifying all the surrounding hills to wind up the oldies there. I am now that oldie!
Then again, he was probably just a prat.

Possibly a bit inappropriate to a fire crew if it was?

Mind you, I remember having a run round the Kingsdale skyline, and when on the top of Whernside, having a very heated discussion with my companion about which of the three peaks we were, on for the benefit of the others up there.

 

[Oceanrower]

If they were genuinely “shocked” at what is clearly a wind up, inappropriate or not, then the service has changed radically since I was in!