The Met Office has issued a new amber alert warning that puts regions of the West Midlands at risk of wildfires, as temperatures are expected to reach 34C this week.
The warning comes after a second wildfire ripped through a large area of heathland at Sherbrook Valley, just off Chase Road in Cannock. Staffordshire County Council's countryside officers are still working around the clock to damp down hotspots to prevent reignition.
Second Blaze Destroys 15 Hectares of Heathland
The fire, which happened last Wednesday, destroyed around 15 hectares of heathland – the equivalent of about 21 football pitches – and killed a significant amount of wildlife in its wake. It is not yet known what caused the fire, but it will take many years for the area to recover.
Overstretched fire crews have now left the site, but the public has been asked to avoid the area while rangers continue to damp down the ground. The wildfire risk for Staffordshire's countryside remains exceptionally high due to the hot and dry conditions.
Public Urged to Prevent Further Fires
Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said: "Emergency services have been dealing with a large volume of wildfires across the county recently due to the hot and dry conditions we've been having.
"Sadly, some of those wildfires have happened at our country parks – including a devastating blaze that destroyed around 15 hectares of heathland in Cannock Chase.
"We're pleading the public to take extra care this week. You can do your part to help prevent further fires by not lighting open flames in the countryside and taking all litter home with you."
Thanks to Fire Service and Partners
Coles added: "I want to say a huge thank you to the fire service for all their efforts over the last couple of weeks.
"I also want to thank our countryside team and our friends at The National Trust, SAC Partnership, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the National Farmers Union, who have all worked flat out to support firefighters with containing the blaze and damping down areas.
"Please continue to avoid the fire site in Sherbrook Valley and respect the Chase Road closures that are in place for everyone's safety, while the wildfire risk remains high."
The public is being reminded not to use barbecues, campfires, or cigarettes in country parks, and to avoid littering, as these actions can easily spark fires in dry conditions.
