Fires on the Cumbria Coast

[Potatopotato]

The passing of a steam train today has caused some problems, the linked article contains pictures of a series of fires along the cumbrian coast line

Over 21 wildfires on West Cumbrian coastline sparked by steam train - cumbriacrack.com

Wildfires have broken out along a section of the West Cumbrian coastline.

cumbriacrack.com

 

[Horizon22]

Only a few days ago the Cumbria Fire Service was warning of fires: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg5l7lx4l0o

Visitors to the Lake District are being urged to act responsibly to cut the risk of wildfires.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue service has issued the plea in advance of an expected increase in visitors due to the coming Easter holidays and warmer weather.
It said tackling such blazes put a "massive amount of stress" on the service, and diverted resources in the event of an incident elsewhere.
People have been asked to ensure they extinguish any barbecues or campfires and take litter home with them.
Andrew Lowes, one of the fire service's station managers for prevention, said: "Wildfires can have a devastating effect on the environment, on wildlife, and on our ability to enjoy the countryside.

 

[Pinus contorta]

Gorse can get going quite quickly

 

[thenorthern]

Earlier I was walking and someone mentioned to me "the steam train hasn't been passed yet" as it was 30 mins after it should have passed. I mentioned to them that the Blue Peter wasn't going to pass as it had been cancelled due to a major fire near Sellafied. I realised I had to explain it was the track on fire not the plant.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

It’s not particularly hot, if unseasonably warm for April. How is the lineside so dry to burn this easily?

 

[Darandio]

It’s not particularly hot, if unseasonably warm for April. How is the lineside so dry to burn this easily?

March was one of the driest on record.

 

[MrsCake21]

March was one of the driest on record

Nothing in comparison to highs of a couple of years ago. Foul play has already been called I think.

 

[Darandio]

Nothing in comparison to highs of a couple of years ago. Foul play has already been called I think.

High what? We're talking about lows.

 

[800001]

It’s not particularly hot, if unseasonably warm for April. How is the lineside so dry to burn this easily?

When did it last rain?

 

[thenorthern]

When did it last rain?

Where I am in Cumbria I don't think it's rained since Friday the 28th of March. I was cutting the grass earlier today and commented that it was very dry.

There have apparently been fires on Walney Island today as well.

 

[The exile]

A radio programme this morning was highlighting the fact that this is peak wildfire season. For a start there is little new growth and the older stuff is drier "from inside" as the sap hasn't really started to rise. What I hadn't realised is the drying effect of frost. Both of those coupled with what has been an unusually long dry spell make the landscape much more vulnerable to discarded cigarette ends, barbecues, sun focussed by broken glass - let alone sparks from steam locos.

Where I am in Cumbria I don't think it's rained since Friday the 28th of March. I was cutting the grass earlier today and commented that it was very dry.

There have apparently been fires on Walney Island today as well.

Do you mean February? 28th March is only last week.

 

[thenorthern]

A radio programme this morning was highlighting the fact that this is peak wildfire season. For a start there is little new growth and the older stuff is drier "from inside" as the sap hasn't really started to rise. What I hadn't realised is the drying effect of frost. Both of those coupled with what has been an unusually long dry spell make the landscape much more vulnerable to discarded cigarette ends, barbecues, sun focussed by broken glass - let alone sparks from steam locos.


Do you mean February? 28th March is only last week.

I have checked the records for the weather station in my garden and it was the 28th when it last rained although not much that day. It might not seem a long time but 7 days without rain in the United Kingdom is quite a long time. In total I think there were 7 days when it rained at least some of the day during March which again is not that many rainy days for the United Kingdom.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

A radio programme this morning was highlighting the fact that this is peak wildfire season. For a start there is little new growth and the older stuff is drier "from inside" as the sap hasn't really started to rise. What I hadn't realised is the drying effect of frost. Both of those coupled with what has been an unusually long dry spell make the landscape much more vulnerable to discarded cigarette ends, barbecues, sun focussed by broken glass - let alone sparks from steam loco

Peak season or not this year is proving to be very unusual. Local TV news featured a general report on wildfires and quoted the typical number of fires so far in the year at this point to be 13. But in 2025 the number attended by fire services across the country has just reached 250! Clearly the very dry March is significant: one weather monitoring station in London recorded just 6mm of rain for the whole month. What odds on widespread drought orders this summer?

 

[Wivenswold]

It's was not only exceptionally dry in March but it was also unusually sunny. By the Spring equinox on 20th March the sun was strong as it was on 22nd September 2024. Dry periods in winter are often accompanied by days of low cloud and/or fog which reduce the amount of sunlight and prevent frosts from occurring. Add in the wind speed and it was the perfect set-up for wildfires. This is likely to remain a problem until rain arrives for most of the UK around the 14/15th April.

 

[PyrahnaRanger]

@thenorthern not sure where you are in Cumbria, but my part (which is relatively close to the coast) I can remember a bit of a shower on one day, and a bit of a downpour on another, but it's been dry (if not sunny) for what seems like an unusually long period, and we've had some decent sunshine the past week or so as well. In not surprised we've had some fires, if somewhat surprised by where they are - there's sections of that line where it feels like the train is having to push branches aside to get through!

 

[Travelmonkey]

there's been a few fires recently got turffed off a pendo at Wolverhapton on Thursday due to one at Tile
hill, ut's one of them issues this time of year especailly after a prolonged few sunny days,

 

[thenorthern]

@thenorthern not sure where you are in Cumbria, but my part (which is relatively close to the coast) I can remember a bit of a shower on one day, and a bit of a downpour on another, but it's been dry (if not sunny) for what seems like an unusually long period, and we've had some decent sunshine the past week or so as well. In not surprised we've had some fires, if somewhat surprised by where they are - there's sections of that line where it feels like the train is having to push branches aside to get through!

I am on Morecambe Bay.

 

[Starmill]

I guess there's perhaps a bias towards vegetation thriving in West Cumbria that prefers wetter conditions. This may put it at a greater risk of drying out or dying in unusually dry weather, even when it's not unseasonably warm.

 

[PyrahnaRanger]

I am on Morecambe Bay.

Ah - I'm slightly further north, more Whitehaven/Workington area

 

[Wivenswold]

Huge wildfire just over the border in Galloway this evening. I assume this will affect services to Stranraer tomorrow. Another up near Ullapool which won't affect any train services unless it gets extremely out of control.

 

[peteb]

Where I am in Cumbria I don't think it's rained since Friday the 28th of March. I was cutting the grass earlier today and commented that it was very dry.

There have apparently been fires on Walney Island today as well.

They can't blame Tangmere for the Walney Island fires!

It did rain on 29th March, (at least near Ribblehead)......but it has been an exceptionally dry March/April overall.

 

[Pinus contorta]

There was heavy rain for a while last Saturday 29 March in South Cumbria but I don't know if it was raining in West Cumbria where the fires occurred. There's very little running through the system currently. Some streams are nearly dry and when I took a regular walk along the side of a raised bog ( around 400m up) the other day it was really dry.

 

[Lloyds siding]

Nothing in comparison to highs of a couple of years ago. Foul play has already been called I think.

The circumstantial evidence that it may be something to do with the railway is pretty high. BBC news: Fires on the Cumbria coast
As others have said we are in a very dry run at the moment. Data indicates that England in March had only 22% of long term average rainfall (LTA). The North West was the wettest place in March with 33% of LTA. However, over the last three months, the North West of England was the driest in England with 66% of LTA. DEFRA Rainfall and river data
Big wildfires in Scotland and Northern Ireland too. BBC 'Forest blaze under control'.

It is very dry round here too, with a lot of dead dry material on the ground which needs warmer temperatures to rot down.

 

[Harpo]

One of the steam train operators using the route, Saphos, denied it was the source of any line-side problems.

Trains on their Lakelander rail tour had to turn back after the Cumbrian Coast Line became "inaccessible", it said.

West Coast Railways, which owns another steam train in operation on Saturday, has been contacted for comment.

(From the BBC item)

Silence from WCRC? Surely not?

 

[bleeder4]

Reported elsewhere that NR have this morning imposed a red fire risk across the country, so diesel-assisted steam is now mandatory.

 

[Welshguy1048]

Reported elsewhere that NR have this morning imposed a red fire risk across the country, so diesel-assisted steam is now mandatory.

@bleeder4

Hello

Have you got a link to the news that NR have imposed a red fire risk please?

 

[Deepgreen]

It’s not particularly hot, if unseasonably warm for April. How is the lineside so dry to burn this easily?

March and April have been bone-dry here in the south, and the north is little different. There has been a surfeit of sunshine, getting stronger every day, plus persistent strong, dry winds at times. It's not at all surprising that the lineside vegetation is so dry and vulnerable to sparks/cinders. I am surprised steam was/is being allowed to run unassisted, and I suspect a national ban on unassisted steam will be in force very soon. Despite my love of steam, I hope so, because further fires will only damage steam's reputation further and will probably accelerate a general ban.

(From the BBC item)

Silence from WCRC? Surely not?

"Trains" (plural)? Only one Saphos train was running - yet again the BBC fails to sense-check its output.

 

[D1537]

@bleeder4

Hello

Have you got a link to the news that NR have imposed a red fire risk please?

No, but the Jacobite was 47826 yesterday and today.

Steam locomotives not used because of wildfire risk

 

[PyrahnaRanger]

The La'al ratty has been running diesel only for the past few days, and it looks like it may continue to do so given the weather. I'm sure that's disappointed a few folks given it's the first week of the Easter holidays, but I can't say I blame them given the proximity of the line to various woods and ferns. Hopefully there's some rain before the Steam Gala in May!

 

[Killingworth]

Maybe oil fired steam locomotives might be tried again. GWR made them work after WW2.