AN East Renfrewshire woman is urging walkers to be “sensible” when enjoying the countryside after land next to her home was set on fire.
Susan Steel and her husband Allan issued the plea after a blaze took hold in a 200-acre field near their Newton Mearns home on Tuesday, April 21.
The flames were so severe that crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) who were sent to the scene had to reload their water tanks several times.
Susan told the Barrhead News: “The fields are so dry at the moment, due to the lovely weather we’ve had, and that is perfect conditions for a fire.
“We had seen a couple sitting on one of the hills a while earlier and we weren’t best pleased, as they had obviously had to drive to where we are. Then we could smell smoke and realised there was a grass fire. After walking over to check, we could see the fire was approaching at great speed. We immediately called 999.”
Four fire engines were sent to the scene, with crews spending more than three hours tackling the blaze.
Susan said: “Thankfully, we have minimal damage – just some burnt fence posts and burnt ground – but the outcome could have been so different.
“If we had been over in one of the other fields, our dogs would certainly have been burnt alive and our kennels, stables and sheds would have burnt down, not to mention our gas tank and our home. It was terrifying.”
David McCarrey, SFRS Group Commander for East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, is urging the public to help reduce the risk of grass and woodland fires.
He said: “We were alerted at 2.44pm on April 21 to reports of a fire in the open in Newton Mearns.
“Operations Control mobilised four appliances to Cairn Road, where crews were met by a large area of grass on fire.
“Firefighters extinguished the fire and made the area safe before leaving the scene. There were no casualties.
“This time of year typically sees crews tackle an increase in fires in the open. These incidents can draw significant resources and we’d urge people of all ages to help us reduce risk.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of grass and woodland fires starting, so iIt is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Countryside Code.”
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