Cliff-top barbecue the cause of gorse fire
FIREFIGHTERS spent more than four hours on Saturday dealing with a gorse fire on cliffs that was started by a portable barbecue.
The blaze at Jerbourg Point, on the blind side of the Pea Stacks looking from the main cliff path, required about a kilometre of hose to be run out.
Crew commander Nick Affleck said nobody was in the area by the time they got there, but he branded the actions of whoever caused the fire as wholly irresponsible.
‘This is the first day of stage two of the lockdown but the message hasn’t changed,’ he said.
‘Apart from exercising for up to two hours per day, people should stay at home unless a journey is essential.
‘Someone has taken it upon themselves to have a barbecue here at a time when social gatherings are not allowed and their actions have diverted important emergency services resources.’
He believed that those responsible had picked their spot so they could not be seen.
The Fire & Rescue Service was called to attend at 10.43am. By the early afternoon it became apparent that assistance would be needed and a second crew was called. One pump and two water tankers were used and 10 firefighters were required.
The fire covered an area of approximately 15m x 10m that sloped steeply towards the cliff edge.
The nearest a tanker could get to it was at the far end of La Moye Lane, by Seaplane Bungalow. The tanker was connected to a fire hydrant, and a hose that was joined in sections had to be run along the cliff path to the Pea Stacks.
Firefighters had to clean the hose and other equipment on their return to station. They left the Jerbourg peninsula shortly before 4pm.
Inspector Kieran McGrath, of Guernsey Police, reiterated Mr Affleck’s words.
‘People need to act responsibly and follow the current advice,’ he said. ‘It’s particularly important that they don’t do anything which increases pressure on the emergency services at this time.’
. Police are appealing for information into the incident. Anybody who can help is asked to call 725111 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
