OT: Fire on Dartmoor

[GB]

I'm really surprised that Dartmoor has caught fire, given the amount of rain we've had and the cold weather. What is burning?

[nightjar]

Winter moorland fires are not uncommon. Very cold weather dries the foliage out just as much as very hot weather. In this case, it is in a very remote area and moving towards a river valley, where it is expected to burn itself out.

[Robin]

much the same stuff as burning in the recent fires in Scotland (Benbecula et al)

[The Natural Philosopher]

one assumes peat.

I share your perplexity

[jon]

I thought that was a smokeless zone.

[Chris Hogg]

More likely gorse. It can burn fast and fiercely when it gets going, and there's been a strong easterly wind these last few days, to fan it. But what started it is the question. It's in a fairly remote area, so less likely to be deliberate vandalism. Perhaps a controlled burn that got out of hand. Controlled burning, known as swaling, is permitted during the winter months, to burn off old dead vegetation and encourage new growth. It's traditional and been done for centuries over all the moors of Devon and Cornwall.

[Chris Hogg]

They showed some pictures on local TV. The moorland was all dry dead grass, about 18" high, and heather, So not tall gorse as I first suggested. Too remote for firefighters to get at in any reasonable way. Burnt itself out quite quickly.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

More to the point is, what started it? Not seen many lightning storms, so maybe a human was involved? Brian

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

Yes but in such cases great care is taken to be sure that it cannot re ignite before the burners leave the area. Brian

[nightjar]

Currently under investigation.

[nightjar]

Not considered a problem, as it only involved the surface vegetation. The ground underneath was too wet for any peat to catch fire.