Inferno at Weymouth's RSPB Radipole Lake reserve (From Dorset Echo)
When news happens get involved. Send your pictures, views and video to us by text and email
Inferno at Weymouth's RSPB Radipole Lake reserve
7:30am Wednesday 16th September 2009 in News By Dan Goater
The blaze at the Radipole Lake reserve
FIRE raged through a nature reserve after reed bed burning spiralled out of control.
Around 75 firefighters in 12 appliances and six Land Rovers were called to Radipole Lake bird reserve off Weymouth Way yesterday morning.
A fire service spokesman said the blaze, which had been planned to manage reed beds, spread rapidly after the wind picked up.
Dorset Police cordoned off part of the southbound lane of Weymouth Way to assist crews gaining access to the land.
The force also launched its marine Rib in the reserve to help co-ordinate the fire service’s response as well as the force helicopter to feed back live aerial images of the blaze to fire control.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service’s area manager Keith Bacon said: “Silver command for the incident said that around six hectares of reed bed had caught fire, which we believe started out as a controlled burn but was then picked up by the wind and got out of control.
“Officers used hosereel jets and beaters to put out the fire and the aerial photography provided by Dorset Police on this job has been priceless.”
Mr Bacon added that fire crews from Weymouth were assisted by crews from Wareham, Bridport and Lyme Regis as well as the Land Support Unit from Hamworthy and officers from Bournemouth.
He also said that one fire fighter required treatment from a paramedic for exhaustion.
Sergeant Luke Wilcock of Dorset Police helped divert traffic past the scene on Weymouth Way.
He said: “Obviously, our first priority is to ensure the safety of the firefighters as they carry out their work as well as the safety of the public.
“We also needed to ensure that motorists were still able to get in and out of Weymouth without too much disruption.”
Nick Tomlinson, Radipole Lake’s reserve manager for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, was also at the scene as the fire burned.
He said: “This was a controlled burn that got out of hand after a freak gust of wind.
“Luckily, we’re not in the nesting season so I can say confidently that there’s been no negative impact on the wildlife here because of this.
“Of course it is regretful that this has happened at all but in the longer term it may actually prove to be beneficial.
“Reed beds are like lawns, they respond to regular management and may well grown back stronger next year as a result of this.”
Mr Tomlinson also heaped praise on Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police for the way they dealt with the incident as well as RSPB volunteers who also came to assist.
Comments(19)
knivelhead51
says...
12:07pm Wed 16 Sep 09
raymanta wrote:totally agree with you there, but you have got to dmire the emergency service's for working together and getting the blaze under control
This was no freak gust of wind it had been blowing hard all morning. The smuts from the fire were carried more than a mile from the scene. This was poor decision making.
[Chris]
says...
12:07pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Bollard
says...
12:29pm Wed 16 Sep 09
wrote:Did you not read they story?
Very poor decision making. How much loss of natures life has been lost with this high class mistake.......
Jim bo
says...
1:06pm Wed 16 Sep 09
The RSPB only care about birds, all other wildlife living in the reeds will have persihed such as snakes, shrews, mice, moths etc.
rook
says...
1:22pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Jim bo wrote:I agree with the first paragraph, but the second is just completely dumb and obviously uninformed.
Completely irrisponsible behaviour to have a "controlled burn" in such weather conditions, this was not a freak wind, there were strong winds all day!
The RSPB only care about birds, all other wildlife living in the reeds will have persihed such as snakes, shrews, mice, moths etc.
Don't usually do this, but security word: wind-idea
homeboy01
says...
1:59pm Wed 16 Sep 09
magicmonkey
says...
2:17pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Jim bo
says...
2:22pm Wed 16 Sep 09
rook wrote:As a regular visitor to the reserve I am well informed thank you, and the comment is no more dumb than the RSPB claiming "that there’s been no negative impact on the wildlife"!
Jim bo wrote: Completely irrisponsible behaviour to have a "controlled burn" in such weather conditions, this was not a freak wind, there were strong winds all day! The RSPB only care about birds, all other wildlife living in the reeds will have persihed such as snakes, shrews, mice, moths etc.I agree with the first paragraph, but the second is just completely dumb and obviously uninformed. Don't usually do this, but security word: wind-idea
Azphreal
says...
3:58pm Wed 16 Sep 09
rook
says...
4:04pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Jim bo wrote:I agree entirely Jim Bo and am glad you admit your comment was wrong! The RSPB quote about no negative impact is dumb as is yours about them only caring about birds.
rook wrote:As a regular visitor to the reserve I am well informed thank you, and the comment is no more dumb than the RSPB claiming "that there’s been no negative impact on the wildlife"!
Jim bo wrote: Completely irrisponsible behaviour to have a "controlled burn" in such weather conditions, this was not a freak wind, there were strong winds all day! The RSPB only care about birds, all other wildlife living in the reeds will have persihed such as snakes, shrews, mice, moths etc.I agree with the first paragraph, but the second is just completely dumb and obviously uninformed. Don't usually do this, but security word: wind-idea
They are a bird-based charity, but even if it were true that they only cared about them, the birds on the reserve from Marsh Harriers to Bearded Tits all require the complete ecosystem to survive.
siratb
says...
4:17pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Still at this has probably been the most exciting job it has been on for a while- other than trying to catch people cycling on the prom ;)
portlandboy
says...
4:21pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Excuse the pun but someone should be fired for this, if not charged with arson. After all, this was a deliberate and reckless act, committed without care or thought of the consequenses.
gobzilla;.
says...
4:46pm Wed 16 Sep 09
.
Poppycock lad poppycock, since when were motorists able to get in and out of Weymouth without too much disruption.
anderton
says...
6:46pm Wed 16 Sep 09
gobzilla;. wrote:Calm down dear.
We also needed to ensure that motorists were still able to get in and out of Weymouth without too much disruption.”
.
Poppycock lad poppycock, since when were motorists able to get in and out of Weymouth without too much disruption.
Genghis
says...
7:34pm Wed 16 Sep 09
Polemicist
says...
8:22pm Wed 16 Sep 09
It's about time the whole area is in-filled and converted to a new road by-pass and lots of new houses.
.
The wildlife can all move to Littlemoor..
585
says...
10:56pm Wed 16 Sep 09
The wild life has already moved to Littlemoor.
anderton
says...
9:35pm Thu 17 Sep 09
585 wrote:When did you move.
Polemicist,
The wild life has already moved to Littlemoor.
raymanta says...
8:07am Wed 16 Sep 09