Fires in Bootle and Hightown underline risk to Sefton’s green and coastal habitats
Two separate incidents in Sefton this week have prompted renewed warnings from local services about the heightened wildfire risk while hot, dry weather persists. A grass fire at North Park, Bootle, was brought under control on Monday, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service later spent more than two hours tackling a blaze in the Hightown dunes.
Both fires were extinguished before they could spread beyond their initial areas, avoiding the kind of large-scale blazes seen elsewhere in the region in recent days. Nevertheless, the events have focused attention on how quickly fires can start and the potential impact on fragile habitats along Sefton’s coastline.
"Please don’t bring barbecues to public beaches or green spaces. Any barbecue, especially disposable ones, carry a risk of starting a fire that can easily get out of control."
The advice, issued by Green Sefton rangers, stresses that dunes, grassland and coastal habitats can be devastated by fire and that wildlife losses can be severe. Rangers have recorded fire-related deaths among species that rely on the coast, including natterjack toads, sand lizards and skylarks, as well as damage to rare plants.
Practical steps urged to reduce risks
Local enforcement and conservation teams note several avoidable causes that escalate danger during dry spells. The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that covers Sefton’s beaches and many green spaces already bans barbecues, open fires and littering, but compliance remains an issue.
- Avoid bringing barbecues to beaches or public green spaces.
- Do not light any fires during high-risk weather; conditions can cause a fire to spread rapidly.
- Take all litter home — even small items such as glass can, under sunlight, ignite dry vegetation.
Fires on sand can also create unexpected hazards for people, since superheated patches of sand can burn feet. The message from both fire crews and Green Sefton is clear: personal behaviour has a direct bearing on public safety and on the survival of vulnerable coastal wildlife.
| Location | Incident | Known detail |
|---|---|---|
| North Park, Bootle | Grass fire | Occurred on Monday; extinguished before spreading |
| Hightown dunes | Dune fire | Blaze lasted for over two hours; extinguished by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service |
Residents are reminded that the current weather, described by services as dry and hot, maintains a high risk of further fires. The recent incidents echo larger wildfires elsewhere in the region and across the UK, where smoke from separate incidents in North Wales and Greater Manchester was widely noticed.
Sefton residents and visitors are being asked to follow the PSPO and Green Sefton guidance to help keep parks, dunes and beaches safe and to protect the borough’s wildlife and green assets while the heatwave continues.
