There have already been six significant wildfires within 15 miles of Beaulieu this year, in addition to smaller fires. The latest, near the A31 at Ringwood, is still being tackled today. Last night, a separate fire in Holbury also spread from vegetation to vehicles and neighbouring homes.
With the Forest currently exceptionally dry, we encourage residents to take a few simple precautions now:
- Know what you would do if a fire approached, and follow instructions from the emergency services.
- Keep access to your property clear and make sure your house number is easy to see.
- Consider having a HEPA air purifier ready, particularly for use in a room where you can keep windows and doors closed if smoke reaches the village. It is much better to have one available before smoke arrives than to try to buy one during an incident.
- Sign up for UK Emergency Alerts and keep an eye on local fire-service updates.
If you see a fire in the countryside, move to safety and call 999 immediately. Do not attempt to tackle it yourself or travel towards it.
We are also preparing a Wildfire Preparednesspage on the Beaulieu Parish Council website, bringing together practical advice on preparing your home and garden, what to do if a fire occurs, and useful emergency information. We will provide a link to this fuller guidance when it is available.
For further national guidance in the meantime, see the National Fire Chiefs Council's Wildfire Awareguidance: Prepare and Protect Against Wildfires
