THE recent dry spell has prompted a spate of grass fires across the area, although overnight rain on Monday has diminished the chances of further outbreaks.

In recent weeks, Kendal Fire Service has attended a handful of such incidents, while at the weekend; crews from Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh attended one at Barbon.

The grass and gorse fire at Middleton Fell, was reported at 7pm on Saturday and was left to burn out with supervision and station staff returned at 9.20pm.

One of the most dramatic examples of a grass fire came at Angler's Crag, Ennerdale, which could have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

More than 40 acres of fell side heather and woodland set ablaze which led to eight fire fighting appliances being called out from Frizington, Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Workington, Maryport and Egremont. The fire began at 11am on Saturday morning and started close to a footpath around Ennerdale water and quickly spread at a point only accessible by foot.

To prevent the fire spreading to nearby Heckbarley forest, fire fighters used beaters and dampers to cut it off, although eventually a fire fighting helicopter from Egremont was called in to spray water onto the flames.

Officially, Cumbria Fire Service does not know what caused the blaze.

Divisional Commander, Paul Hancock, said: "The ground at the moment is really tinder dry and the slightest spark, cigarette or match or anything like that will smoulder away for a period of time until it catches fire."

April 15, 2003 09:31