After a pleasant day at stanage popular, we were heading back to the plantation car park. We noticed smoke coming from the plantation trees closest to us. Upon closer approach, we smelt fire.
Further investigation showed two gents had set up a camp, with 2 tents and a fire pit. They were readily throwing fire wood on an already very reasonably sized fire. I challenged them, telling them about the very high fire risk that has been widely publicised, stating that they should maybe not continue with the fire. Obviously this fell on deaf ears, and they basically said yes ok but we’re not going to listen to you.
Back at the carpark, on the very large banner about not having fires, there was a fire watchdog number to call in case of non emergency’s. I dialled this and was directed to a call centre where I reported the fire. Once I had phonetically spelt out stanage plantation the chap on the other end of the phone realised I was in Derbyshire, and told me to call 999. To me this seemed completely unnecessary because I didn’t view it as an emergency, whilst there was a fire, it was completely controlled. I didn’t call 999, Stanage Plantationand at this point I felt I had done as much as I could do.
In this situation, what would you have done? Did I do enough? Obviously if the fire spreads out of control, I’d feel incredibly guilty.