Bonfire warning as crews halt burning on sand dunes

Don't burn your rubbish - that's the message from fire crews who warn bonfires are preventing them from responding to genuine emrgencies.

By Paul Berentzen

Published 16th May 2020, 14:46 BST

Updated 16th May 2020, 14:48 BST

A fire on the sand dunes at St Annes caused widespread damage in 2018.

Posting on Twitter, South Shore Fire Station said crews had attended several bonfires in recent days, including one on the sand dunes.

It is less than two years since a fire on the dunes at St Annes, which prompted a temporary ban on portable barbecues, destroyed huge swathes of the nature reserve there.

In the post, the fire service urged people "please stop" lighting bonfires. It linked to an image asking people not to burn rubbish during the coronavirus crisis, which has seen recycling centres closed.

Tips in Fleetwood and Lytham re-opened on Friday (May 15), while the one in Bispham will be back up and running on Monday (May 18).

A fire service spokesman said: "We've attended several bonfires over the last few days, even one on the sand dunes.

"Please stop! You're unnecessarily tying up a fire engine that could be needed for a genuine emergency."