'Wildfires are devastating, they destroy everything'

"It was absolutely devastating," farmer Tracy May said of the huge wildfire that destroyed more than 1,000 acres on Dartmoor last May.

Speaking about the intense blaze that burnt in Devon for almost 24 hours, May, who is also chair of the Dartmoor Commoners' Council (DCC), said: "Ground-nesting birds, animals with their young - everything - they couldn't get away from the fire."

In the last year, steps have been taken on Dartmoor to improve wildfire preparedness, including cutting an additional 25 miles (40km) of firebreaks and creating better access for emergency vehicles.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has reported an increase in wildfires in recent years, as the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has warned the risk is on the rise because of climate change.

Simon Lee, head ranger at Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), said: "We are at quite a high level of fire risk.

"Wildfires can spread through vegetation very rapidly and cover a very large area. It can permanently damage the ecology of the area, as well as putting people and ground-nesting birds at risk.

"We're asking people during these drier months to leave the barbecue at home and picnic instead.

"It's also really important to remind people that there are no open fires permitted on Dartmoor at any time of year."

Callum Deveney, head of nature reserves at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said conservationists were not just worried about individual blazes, but also if there there was repeated burning at a site.

He said: "Good habitation on a moorland site usually has structure.

"You have short vegetation, then you'll have taller heathers and gorses, and a variety of plants.

"If that burns year after year after year, you'll just have a very uniform habitat, and that doesn't attract a variety of wildlife."

Ian Donovan, from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS), said: "Wildfires can be extremely difficult to manage and extremely dangerous."

Donovan said he had been working with DNPA and DCC to improve wildfire preparedness and said wind conditions, the type of vegetation, temperature and humidity could all impact how fast a wildfire spreads.

He added most wildfires are caused by "human intervention", including open fires, barbecues or discarded cigarettes.

Dave Swallow, wildfire deputy lead for NFCC, said: "Recent examples have show us the impact of climate change, with hotter drier summers.

"In the South West and on Dartmoor, where there are peat bogs, in those really dry conditions, the fires can burn into the peat and that's what can take a long time to extinguish."

"Wildfires definitely put pressure on fire services."

May, along with other farmers, are working with Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) and others to develop the Dartmoor Strategic Fire Plan to reduce the risk of wildfires and shorten the response time when a wildfire does happen.

As part of the plan, land is being mapped to show the location of firebreaks, water sources and vegetation.

Access roads and river crossings are being improved and members of DCC are also being trained and equipped to fight fires.

"Dartmoor is in a much better position than it was," May said.

"But, whenever we have dry weather, I have half an eye on the horizon, looking for smoke".

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