Hill, Grass and Woodland Fires in Tayside

Important
Never be afraid to call the Fire and Rescue Service
All 999 calls are free (including mobile calls)

  What is a hill, grass or woodland fire?
   Any fire involving grass, bushes, trees, gorse, undergrowth and farm crops.  This type of fire is particularly common during the summer months affecting rural areas, but they also occur in city parks and common areas.  We also receive many calls to areas of railway embankment.

What are the main causes of these fires?
Generally, these fires are caused by people either unintentionally or willfully setting fire to elements of the countryside.  This may be due to carelessly discarded cigarettes or smoking materials, uncontrolled bonfires and barbecues or children deliberately setting fires during the school holidays, etc.

Everyone can help by taking extra care during the dry summer months.

What should you do if you discover a fire in the countryside?
If you should discover a fire, dial 999.

  To assist fire crews in finding the fire:

   Try to establish the exact location of the incident, eg "Powrie Brae", "Tarzan’s Island", etc.
Identify any road(s) nearby, eg "Off the A85 near Wester Fowlis junction".
Local landmarks will assist firefighters in locating the area in question, eg "Behind the car park", "Near the monument".
If it is safe to do so, wait for the fire engine to arrive so that you can give directions.

What are the effects of hill, grass or woodland fires?
The effects of fires in the countryside can be wide ranging and very serious with large areas of the countryside being affected.  Large fires can draw on firefighting resources from across Tayside and beyond reducing the availability of resources for property fires, road traffic accidents and other life threatening incidents.  Wildlife is particularly vulnerable to the effects of fire and smoke and natural habitats that have taken years to become established can be devastated in a matter of hours.  Crops on farmland can be quickly destroyed and affect associated farm buildings.  Other environmental impacts include large volumes of smoke polluting the atmosphere and the disruption of natural water supplies and associated plant or pond life when water is taken for firefighting.  Leisure activities such as camping and caravanning by their very nature can easily be threatened by an advancing fire.

These fires are serious; people can be killed or injured exactly as can happen on fires involving property.  The speed at which a fire can travel through gorse and dry undergrowth can be staggering, creating its own wind path as the blaze escalates.