FIRE investigators have now concluded that a discarded disposable barbecue was the cause of the devastating blaze which ripped through the Lickey Hills Country Park last Monday.
Firefighters were unsure if that was the cause as they did not find an actual barbecue but now they say a barbecue shaped burn on the extremely dry ground has been found.
They say the barbecue may have been removed but the heat left behind on the ground would have been enough to spark the fire.
It is thought the hot ash was blown some distance sparking a second fire on the hills.
Station Commander Richie Young, who conducted the initial investigation into the Lickey Hills fires, said: “Given that we are continuing to deploy to fires in the open on a daily basis, we would remind people to exercise extreme caution and not to use disposable barbecues in the countryside at all, even if they take them away afterwards.
“We’re expecting more hot weather later in the week, and the ground remains tinder dry and extremely combustible, so please avoid having barbecues or campfires, discarding cigarettes or litter, or dropping glassware which can also ignite fires.
“Even if we get the occasional rainshower, don’t assume the ground will be damp and therefore safe. An inch or two below ground it will still be intensely hot.
“We’re grateful to the public for their support on this. Please take care and stay safe.”
Further information on how to stay safe and avoid causing fires or other incidents is on the HWFRS website – www.hwfire.org.uk www.gov.uk/firekills or by calling the Prevention Team on 0800 032 1155.
