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Big ass fire in our area currently that not getting quite the national news coverage you'd expect.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93ky3j3g17o
A slight wind switch this morning and it heading our way. Still about 3 miles away and it's got to jump a river but..... geeez. 3 miles isn't that far when the bloody thing is 30 miles long and about 4 wide. Twitchy bum time - work proving surprisingly tricky to focus on so apologies for the keep my mind off it posts!
Due to rain big in 3 hours....can't come soon enough.
Devastation to wildlife and landscape is going to be very sad.
And all set off by an idiot with a campfire 🙁
Fingers crossed for you; hopefully the wind will change direction and the rain comes sooner than expected.
Always a bit exciting.... I've had them a bit too close to hand climbing. Once turned up to climb somewhere and found it still smouldering at the bottom of the hill.
These were natural phenomena...and wildlife does recover. No oudoors fire ban in place where you are?
A family member in the area has spent the last couple of weeks battling fires on the estates surrounding where he lives. This one, with its seat as a campfire, a suspected arson, and of all things, one caused during a training exercise. The levels of criminal stupidity are off the scale. The costs are absolutely huge, and I join in hoping all ends well for the OP.
No outdoors fire ban in place where you are
There is a seasonal bylaw in the Cairngorms banning fires but not in the rest of the Highlands - just advice and warnings.
As I type there are 2500acres of countryside (woodland, moorland, rewilded and agricultural) on fire, or 100 square km if you are wired metric. I'm pretty close to the lump on the right but the lump on the left has advanced about 5 miles north in the last 12 hours.
On the Nasa Firms fire site, its the biggest single blob in the whole of Europe (don't look at Africa, its scary) - yet it only makes about the 6th story on the BBC Scotland site and doesn't feature at all on the UK wide news.
I've just spoken to a colleague in Forres - they have barely slept with smoke pouring through the house from this fire, triggering asthma and every neighbours smoke detector. Very worrying.
We had a go at someone in Burn O'Vat this weekend who was trying to spark up a disposable BBQ...he resisted at first but a few more of the camping neighbours joined in and offered the use of stove inside a van - which he had anyway... 🙄
Hope things are improving - I'm amazed you're able to do any work with that view. Fingers crossed.
We had a go at someone in Burn O'Vat this weekend who was trying to spark up a disposable BBQ
There's no end to the stupidity of some folk. During the previous round of wildfires and fire warnings there was still evidence of wild campfires around my local trails. Didn't ever see the folk responsible.
That looks very close. Luckily the weather forecast does look very helpful for you, rain between 4pm - 2am so hopefully that will deal with it.
July 2022 we were lucky and just had heat damage to the van. A few houses in the village were burnt out and had to be demolished. Flames were very close to setting the van on fire. We weren't allowed to get to the van to move it as it was considered to dangerous.
That family member has just sent a couple of videos. He’s at the firefront end of that big fire. There are employees from something like a dozen different estates all working flat out with the fire service.
Here’s the NASA snapshot of the current situation.
The high winds aren’t helping, and they’re not convinced the rain will help much. Several helicopters on scene dousing as best they can.
We spent a couple of weeks in BC and Alberta last summer. We were warned about wildfires several times and the wildfire prevention stuff was drilled into everyone, there was a complete fireban, no charcoal BBQs (even in your garden), no camp fires, no bonfires, nothing. Unfortunately dry-strike lightning was igniting stuff all over the place.
We ended up getting evacuated from Jasper due to the fire( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Jasper_wildfire ) , which is not an experience I'd like to repeat, especially when we were on a 1/4 tank of petrol and it would be touch and go that we would be able to find any down the road...
When this came through with accompanying phone alert whilst failing to get fuel it was squeeky bum time...
https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0e45bd0ef9814d5e9ec3f87900a4cfe9
We really really need to get better at the fire prevention stuff in this country. We seem to have the pervasive "it'll be fine" attitude which really doesn't do us any favours.
Right - that's us asked to withdraw as a precaution.
Bike, Cat, Wife - pick two 🙂
Best of luck, fingers crossed
No oudoors fire ban in place where you are?
Given the amount of entitled dickheads about, I'm not sure how much of a difference that would make, TBH.
@convert - I was thinking of you earlier. Do.you have somewhere you can evacuate to? You're welcome here but you'd have to leave the cat to burn as Mrs S is allergic to them 😂
There is a seasonal bylaw in the Cairngorms banning fires but not in the rest of the Highlands - just advice and warnings.
Seasonal bylaw isn't in force yet as it still needs Government approval. We're hoping it'll be active by next Spring. Unfortunately it needs policing and we know how ineffective that can be in remote areas. Neither does it restrict the actions of folks on their own land. One of the current fires was caused by a farmer letting his fire get out of control, despite being asked to extinguish it a couple of days ago.
I'm still not sure how the blaze nearer Cartridge started. Given the wind direction it's difficult to see how the Loch Allan site would have caused it.
The one near Carrbridge has been going on and off since 20th June. It was started during a training exercise.
Not clear to me you need a byelaw - reckless conduct is already an offence in Scotland.
Not clear to me you need a byelaw - reckless conduct is already an offence in Scotland.
I think you need to have it made explicit - "all responsible for lighting fires will be prosecuted for reckless conduct". The bit that matters is that you can post definitive notices that says its not a request or guidance, it's straight to prosecution (that will stick) regardless if you get away with with it and don't generate mayhem.
Thanks for the offer Colin but I'm safely ensconced by the sea. Took Cat and Wife - get me all grown up making mature decisions!
Do we really think no one should light a campfire? One of the groups I camp with always have a fire. But also take great care with them. turf removed ( to be replaced later) ring of stones to prevent spread and put out with a lot of water to ensure the ground around is well soaked and then turf replace. they return to the same sites and often the old fire places are invisible a year later
Is this getting to be a worse issue from climate change? Just in dry times should we refrain? Is this another case of the irresponsible spoiling it for the responsible?
I'm genuinely interested in opinions
Unfortunately the rules need to account for the stupidest/most reckless in society, so nobody should be lighting campfires in the wild.
Is this fire at risk of taking out the windfarms up there?
Is this getting to be a worse issue from climate change? Just in dry times should we refrain? Is this another case of the irresponsible spoiling it for the responsible?
I'd say it's one of those move at the pace of the slowest in society things. In perilous areas of very high risks, whilst you might be able to do it safely others who see you do it might not appreciate the measures you take that make it so and nause it up when they take your 'competent' fire as permission to have a go themselves. And then who gets to decide on competency? If it's something where you only are endangered - crack on and do yourself harm if your judgment of competency is misjudged or you are a natural risk taker. If the harm is done to others/the environment - I'm not convinced you get to be the judge.
No - I don't think there should be a blanket ban of fire at all times in all places - but I do think local authorities/ national parks etc should bring them in a lot more proactively when needed....and they then need to be well publicised....and those that should know better need to lead by example and it be culturally unacceptable to flaunt it. Like attempting to get in a Scandinavian swimming pool without a thorough shower 🙂
Is this getting to be a worse issue from climate change? Just in dry times should we refrain? Is this another case of the irresponsible spoiling it for the responsible?
Yes. Yes. And yes.
Bad in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire this year. Natural fires are one thing, human assisted, deliberately or accidentally, are a disaster.
And every firefighting resource forced to work up on a moor to deal with some entitled idiots lack of thought is one less to deal with a house fire or car crash
Unfortunately the rules need to account for the stupidest/most reckless in society, so nobody should be lighting campfires in the wild.
Is this fire at risk of taking out the windfarms up there?
Yup - well, its reached and gone through at least two I know of - probably a third thinking about it. But in truth...I'm not convinced it'll have done a load of long term damage to them.
Do we really think no one should light a campfire?
Yes, at times of high risk it really is that simple. I don't think it matters how careful you are.
I'l take your no camp fires and raise you. I take no stove or matches when camping in vulnerable areas except when there's snow. I'd like a ban on fire starting means like a knife ban and that includes cigarettes in vulnerable areas.
Fingers crossed for you, Convert Locally ramblers were killed in a deliberately stared fire.
Quick photo as we left - the properly scary bit is actually just out of picture on the right. Had to find free accommodation for two slightly confused elderly German tourists from the holiday let with their mahoosive dog.
Sounds like its already calmed down - might get back tonight with luck
Best of luck to you. I've a colleague in Granton who is properly worried. Having been affected by wildfires in Melbourne back in 2009, I can empathise.
Yes, that'll do it. Happy days!
Didn't fancy having to get a new bike/cat/wife*
*Well, the cat is a keeper, the others - up for negotiation. Never say never.
The rain hasnt got to Nethy yet, its like the end of the world out there, silent, nobody out and a thick smoke hanging in the air thats turning a sickly yellow as the light starts to fade. I'm really looking forward to the rain now, clear the taste out of the air hopefully.
Edit; started as I typed that, not heavy tho
Wind seems to have changed direction and we finished our Monday evening run in thick smoke at Coylumbridge. The rain is on now. I hope it's a proper downpour
Yes, that'll do it. Happy days!
Didn't fancy having to get a new bike/cat/wife*
*Well, the cat is a keeper, the others - up for negotiation. Never say never.
Wanted to ask which one you'd left behind, but was waiting for things to be less tense for you.
I rarely say this, but I hope it pisses down all night for you.
One of the groups I camp with always have a fire.
Why? What utility does it serve?
Unfortunately, thanks to many outdoor companies, influencers and just "folk" there's now a widespread public perception that camping means having an open fire. Slowly, some of the companies are beginning to revise their marketing and I've had a couple make changes to promotional photos to remove campfires.
It's back to the principle of NOT thinking it'll be ok if I do this and thinking instead what if everyone did this?
Why? What utility does it serve?
Unfortunately, thanks to many outdoor companies, influencers and just "folk" there's now a widespread public perception that camping means having an open fire.
Some seem to consider it almost a human right.
Have been standing in my garden in Inverness trying to waft this heavy rain your way to try and help.
Agree about campfires being a bit fetishised. They're just something that is quite nice, but given their potential for destruction, probably not worth it most of the time.
Why? What utility does it serve?
NOne - its just nice to have and a part of this groups tradition for 30+ years
Its not about influencers or anything else - its a long standing tradition in general to do so and I have known of folk doing it well before influencers or marketing got involved way back to the 50s and before 🙂 I remember seeing a video of some famous scots mountaineers with a campfire way back when ( can't find it now) where they talked about how nice it was to have one. Am I just stuck in the past? Is this group?
t's back to the principle of NOT thinking it'll be ok if I do this and thinking instead what if everyone did this?
Is a very pertinent point and one I have used against van lifers.
Hmmm - food for thought. I am not in charge of this group and it will be a hard sell to stop them
ah yeah clearly if you get lucky you probably don’t get prosecuted for reckless endangerment, although it’s quite a broad offence soo if it’s clear to all sensible people that it would be massively stupid then you might. Realistically I’m not sure byelaws stop anyone or result in useful prosecutions.Not clear to me you need a byelaw - reckless conduct is already an offence in Scotland.
I think you need to have it made explicit - "all responsible for lighting fires will be prosecuted for reckless conduct". The bit that matters is that you can post definitive notices that says its not a request or guidance, it's straight to prosecution (that will stick) regardless if you get away with with it and don't generate mayhem.
we see what you’ve done…. If the worst happens you will get a new bike…Thanks for the offer Colin but I'm safely ensconced by the sea. Took Cat and Wife - get me all grown up making mature decisions!
Part of my work recently was to bring in Public Space Protection Orders for our heathland forests in Dorset and then for the whole of the New Forest. They make it an offence to light a fire, a disposable bbq or go equipped to do so in those areas.
even with this we’ve had a 3 hectare fire this weekend and issued a fine. Don’t get me wrong, in the past, generally in the winter months I’ve had responsible small campfires whilst working in broadleaved woodlands but well out of the way and in a place that is safe. I’ve also directly fought a lot of wildfires in south wales and dealt with our response to numerous wildfires in the south of England. This year is shaping up to be worse than 2022 which was a really bad year as we had a long dry hot summer back then, this year we’ve also had a long dry spring. That year I dealt with multiple wildfires in woodlands that were from what looked like small campfires perhaps from someone hiking or bikepacking that had been lit on weekend evenings and had been “extinguished” and left. There was no litter or mess from flycamping, whoever had the fires probably thought they were being responsible. The problem is though that the following day, the wind picks up, humidity goes down and the sun gets on those hotspots or ashes, the weather we are getting during these hot summers makes them flare up again. They often burn slowly across the woodland floor for a while before anyone notices as they don’t make much smoke and are often out of the way, you can often smell smoke but can’t find the origin until they flare up and produce a smoke column which is usually when they hit a batch of young dry vegetation and all hell breaks loose. Disposed of bbq coals have the same effect, as do disposable bbqs, they can stay hot for ages or burn into the ground.
The current van life trend isn’t helping, I lose count of how many I see with a campfire or a fire pit which will eventually get emptied into a bush or a bin. People have lost the ability to foresee what might happen. I see outdoor clothing brands with marketing materials saying they’ll plant a tree for every t shirt sold who are showing people clad in their gear having campfires in woodlands in the summer.
The real problem, notwithstanding the ecological impact and the visual impact as well as risk to people locally is the level of resources that wildfires take up. On one Sunday in 2022 Hants fire service had almost all their appliances out fighting wildfires with only a few units reserved at fire stations for structural fires and other emergencies. Some of these wildfires last for weeks in this dry, hot prolonged weather and take up vast amounts of resources.
Use your bbq at home, bring some sandwiches and do you really need a campfire when it’s 25 degrees still at ten o'clock at night!
We had a go at someone in Burn O'Vat this weekend who was trying to spark up a disposable BBQ...he resisted at first but a…
…bucket of water or two might have acted as an incentive.
There’s no point in trying to be polite to someone who, in all honesty, is being criminally negligent!🔥 🤬
Is this getting to be a worse issue from climate change? Just in dry times should we refrain? Is this another case of the irresponsible spoiling it for the responsible?
Yes. No exceptions under any circumstances, because the obvious result is “but they had a fire…”
Bloody hell tj, I thought you were smarter than that!
Hmmm - food for thought. I am not in charge of this group and it will be a hard sell to stop them
Well you have some pretty hard line opinions on other topics... Use that energy.
🙂
…bucket of water or two might have acted as an incentive. There’s no point in trying to be polite
Let us know how that works out if you ever do it.
You catch more flies with honey than hen shit. All action like you suggest will likely do is escalate things really rapidly.
When I burn the shop paperwork it’s amazing how even though it looks out at the top ,the bottom is still smouldering nicely even 2 days later.
The fires have just been on the Radio Scotland news. I am surprised that there's not been more prominent coverage . Fires are fairly common around Lochaber towards the end of winter and in spring. Some caused by muirburn but often also by campfires and barbecues. I'd agree with a ban on fires at times of risk. I'd also agree with a general presumption against fires and barbecues on any kind of campsite. When I started hillwalking in the 70s the basic idea was to leave no trace.
Any updates this morning OP? Hope all is well.
Many interpret that as "no visible" trace. It IS possible to have a fire properly and many have being doing so for years. However, as I already pointed out, it is setting an expectation amongst those less prepared and trained. In all my years of camping I've had a fire three times. Two of those I'm happy with, the third I regret.
I was also involved in causing a small moorland fire in Affric many years ago, in that a friend of mine was following the "wipe and burn" toilet paper guidance when an ember set some dried grass on fire. The spread was rapid and it didn't go deep, so even the heather wasn't affected, but it was scary.
Any updates this morning OP? Hope all is well.
After 15-20mm of rain last night (and the efforts of fire crews and various others) the fires seem.to be extinguished. There is still debris on some of the roads that will need to be cleared up.
Any updates this morning OP? Hope all is well.
Just heard that the Dava roads are closed again, with a fire up at the AA box. Always likely I guess.
Just heard that the Dava roads are closed again, with a fire up at the AA box. Always likely I guess.
Arsonists Anonymous?
(Too soon maybe?)
Looks like your fires finally made the BBC new.
And Floods.
Firefighters continue to tackle Highland and Moray wildfires for fourth daypublished at 14:52
Firefighters are working tirelessly to tackle wildfires across Highland and Moray for the fourth day in a row.
The blaze began on Saturday morning and firefighters are continuing to tackle pockets of fire in various locations - from Nairn in Highland to Knockando in Moray,
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Ross Robison of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says: “The vast scale of these fires has been challenging for our crews over the past four days, particularly because of the strong winds that have caused the fires and smoke to spread further across the landscape."
-
-
Flood alerts issued in parts of Scotlandpublished at 14:43
The UK's highest temperatures of the year have been recorded today in Kent and south-east England, but there are mixed conditions across other parts of the UK.
In contrast to the intense heat in south-east England, flood alerts are in place across large parts of Scotland.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency says heavy rainfall on Tuesday afternoon and evening might lead to flooding in:
- West central Scotland
- Central Scotland
- Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City
- Tayside
- Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside.
The five separate warnings came into effect this morning.
It comes as firefighters enter their fourth day of battling wildfires in some parts of the Scottish Highlands and Moray - we'll have more on that in our next post.
Glad you are OK convert. Just remember that you can always ask a mate (scotroutes) if ever you need to organise wife and cat first, so that bikes can be recovered....
As someone who runs firelighting courses, yes you can leave no trace and yes you and (and often should) make the 'no fire' decision. After two interrupted years due to high fire risk, we are both moving our training to winter and re-writing our guidance to schools to bolster the decision to not light up.
Yes, climate change is affecting this. There are some tools which show this. Untick all the boxes except Wildfire: https://open-data-national-trust.hub.arcgis.com/apps/National-Trust::climate-hazards-23/explore
Oh, and anyone who lives south and east of about Leicester, you are f*ck*d with climate change issues of heat, drought, wildfire and more... https://open-data-national-trust.hub.arcgis.com/apps/National-Trust::climate-hazards-23/explore
Ta Matt.
We rode up the Goyt valley in the Peak district on Sunday, where there was a huge wildfire not too long ago. The wildfire there was featured on 'Countryfile' recently. To see the devastation up close is truly heart rending. The ground nesting birds, insect life, flora and mammal life completely destroyed and recovery (although we could see some green shoots) painstakingly slow.
This fire caused pollution for miles. In our own home windows had to be kept shut and ash still got in, all this and we're five miles away.
Several years ago the moors beyond and above Stalybridge were burning well into the night, to this day I can still see the line where the fire stopped from our house. Years and years to recover.
Hopefully something can be done to stop these idiots taking tiktok videos and encouraging their 'mates' to take fires/bbqs or just smoking out into the countryside (especially the moorland). It's been apparent by the number of mountain rescue team call outs recently that some people don't give a toss about anything but themselves and their enjoyment.
Do we really think no one should light a campfire?
When fire conditions are extreme in Oz we're not only banned from fires but also not supposed to use grinders, lawnmowers etc. Any spark can set things off. Even a hot car exhaust in long grass can be a risk.
We had one here at Cupwith Hill/Slaithwaite Moor a year or two ago that I'm pretty convinced was started by someone flying a model 'plane.
30 years ago in Provence, was planning to climb on Mont St Victoire. Except they didn't have fire starting bans, they had just closed the whole area. And while it wasn't obviously policed, everyone was conforming. I guess it's about more assertive public education and making people understand the consequences.
Seems astonishing that it takes time to get a byelaws in place .
SDNP are posting warnings on their insta, but i haven't seen any notices in car parks or on trails yet.
And as for having to have fires, even well prepared, that's stupid, what about sparks carried up and then on the breeze. 50 year tradition be damned.
There were a number of wildfires in Snowdonia in April. We could see them for miles. This went on a number of weeks with outbreaks all over.
Bit of video someone has uploaded to FB from Monday. We've lost the equivalent of 10500 football pitches of woodland and moor. A farmer neighbour had the fire within 30ft of his house & farm buildings with the fire service working hard to save them. If the wind had not dropped and the rain had not arrived I think the consequences could have been pretty significant. We got lucky.
edit - arse, can't upload. I give up - it wasn't all that good!
What happened to the German couple and their dog?
What happened to the German couple and their dog?
Although have to admit people do ridiculously stupid things at times, not all these wildfires can be put down to bbq's, or as mentioned 'deliberate' that tbh i suspect such a case would be extremely rare, and more down to people being shortsighted or unable to grasp simple premise of dry grass/heather+fire isnt a good idea, and they allow it to die out rather than putting it well out using water.
So while in those cases they are responsible, not criminally responsible per se because in more there will be no intent
I remember one from 1995 or 6 Scottish series sailing regatta up at Tarbert on Loch Fyne.
Usual stuff, most competitors are well inebriated when some silly sod sets off a parachute flare. This floats over the village and settles in the heather surrounding the town. By nightfall the entire hillside behind most of Tarbert is well alight
No harm to life and did eventually get put out, and far as i heard the culprit basically got a large fine.
Which is in fact a pretty good definition of recklessness. That doesn’t require intent, it simply requires the man on the Clapham omnibus to reason that lighting a fire, or a bbq, or sending flares into tinder dry heather moorland during a heatwave and prolonged dry spell is likely to set thousands of hectares of valuable countryside alight, kill thousands upon thousands of living creatures, endanger many, many people, their homes, buildings and their livelihoods, and cost landowners and the taxpayer hundreds and hundreds of thousands just to fight the consequences.
correct scapegoat - hence that guy with the flare got fined.
Heatwave / prolonged dry spell and fire is a reckless mix
There have been local efforts to get Chinese Lanterns banned. TBF, I've not seen any for a couple of years.
Was walking up around Wirksworth/Carsington this today, everywhere is dangerously dry, never seen it like this in 25 years up here.
Even a hot car exhaust in long grass can be a risk.
I had to point out to the farm owner in 2022 heatwave that having long dry grass in a car park used by petrol cars was a very bad thing. Catalytic convertors being hot as they are and under the vehicle. It hadn't occurred to them!
Was walking up around Wirksworth/Carsington this today, everywhere is dangerously dry, never seen it like this in 25 years up here.
Click that risk map link I posted above - one of the layers is wildfires 2050... Another reason anyone living south and east of Birmingham is in for a very worrying future, and all of us face it as an increased risk.
One of the other layers is landslips - and I live at the base of an old railway embankment (my garden) which has moved the last couple of years after particularly intense rainfall....
Was walking up around Wirksworth/Carsington this today, everywhere is dangerously dry, never seen it like this in 25 years up here.
Click that risk map link I posted above - one of the layers is wildfires 2050... Another reason anyone living south and east of Birmingham is in for a very worrying future, and all of us face it as an increased risk.
We're above Birmingham, might soon have to move further north like you did!
Its not about influencers or anything else - its a long standing tradition in general to do so and I have known of folk doing it well before influencers or marketing got involved way back to the 50s and beforeI remember seeing a video of some famous scots mountaineers with a campfire way back when ( can't find it now) where they talked about how nice it was to have one. Am I just stuck in the past? Is this group?
In the 50s it was probably realistically being used for heat or cooking (or at least by people who's parents had used it for that)! With modern materials and lightweight stoves it's a social focus. I get that - its the same as a fireplace at home (and many of your critics here have log burners). The access rules don't actually exclude it
although they certainly don't encourage it. Twenty years on, it might be time to reflect if the access code needs updated on wild camping, fires etc. where people push the definition of "responsible".
Oh and it might not be driven by Influencers as we've come to think of them in social media terms but it is driven by people with influence.
Interesting discussion on campfires. Thanks for that and apologies for the thread digression
A few thoughts. Australia where I was for a few months - almost all campsites provide fire pits including the very basic dept of Conservation ones in national parks. ( there is no wild camping allowed) they do have fire bans at times of high risk of wildfires but clearly camp fires are seen as a normal part of camping. Aus clearly has overall a much higher risk of wildfires. Aus also has bans on firewood collection in the national parks t as deadfall wood is seen as a necessary thing for wildlife so you have to bring your wood in from outside.
I don't think a total ban is proportionate in Scotland but perhaps we need to move from "we must have a campfire" to "Is a campfire reasonable in these circumstances?". " is it reasonable to collect wood here?"
Given the places this group camp there is no issue with setting a precedent for others - campsites are normally hidden with no other campers around to see what we are doing. We have had contact with landowners / land managers fairly frequently and not once have we been asked not to have a fire. Sometimes the land manager has joined us around the fire.
its hard to accept a total no when the landowners are still burning the hillsides to shoot grouse
Clearly in times of high fire risk it would not be reasonable to light a fire
anyway - good food for thought here. thanks
its hard to accept a total no when the landowners are still burning the hillsides to shoot grouse
Indeed, and muirburn *must* be stopped.
I too rarely have a campfire these days - the few times we do it is a kelly/ghillie kettle on a river bank using driftwood.
I am very aware of the environmental consequences of stripping an area of dead wood these days as well.
Perhaps we are seeing a future with a March 1st to October 30th ban on campfires or outdoor fires of any kind?
Some morons decided to have a big ****ing bonfire in my local woods. Discovered the still smouldering embers whilst out with the dog.
Headed home and came back on the bike with the lad and 10L of water.
Had to send the lad back to get another 5l to make sure it was properly out.
Good job we found it and actually decided to do something about it. Plenty of people will have walked past it this morning.
Boils my piss!
Boils my piss!
I'd probably just use tap water.
Many years ago I did put out a campfire by peeing on it. It wasn't my best decision