Do your bit to help prevent wildfires this summer

Published on 22 June 2023

With summer now well and truly upon us, the District Council is reminding people that lighting fires, barbecues, fireworks and Chinese lanterns has been banned to help prevent wildfires at high-risk locations in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

In 2021, the Council approved the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covering land owned by the Council and all parts of the District that lie within the boundary of the Peak District National Park that are open to the air and to which the public have access.

Smoking in open countryside and discarding cigarettes can also cause fires so the Council is asking everyone to be mindful of the possible consequences and to act responsibly.

Councillor Nigel Yates, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Environment, said: "Fires have such a devastating impact on our countryside and can be so difficult for firefighters to tackle.

"Most wildfires are the result of careless behaviour and are, therefore, preventable. The measures we've put in place should help people avoid unintentionally starting a fire and I would urge everyone to comply with the ban.

"As well as helping to stop fires, we hope that by raising awareness of the dangers everyone coming to enjoy the Moorlands landscapes will think twice about their actions and play their part in protecting our special natural environment."

As fires impact on climate change, the environmental cost is also high. Peatlands are an important carbon sink - in the Peak District alone 20 million tonnes of carbon is stored in the peat. Healthy peatlands store more carbon than they release whilst those in poor condition release carbon into the atmosphere.

The order is in place for a period of three years.

Find out more about the wildfires PSPO.