https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

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.

--
Colin Bignell

On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

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


https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/news-campaigns/news/2021/02/wildfire-warning-in-place-across-west-coast-until-friday-12-february.aspx



--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

one assumes peat.

I share your perplexity



--
"Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social
conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the
windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) "

Alan Sokal

On Fri, 12 Feb 2021 09:56:23 +0000, GB wrote:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

I thought that was a smokeless zone.

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

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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"nightjar" wrote in message
...
On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

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.

--
Colin Bignell

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

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:37:09 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

one assumes peat.

I share your perplexity

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.
https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/living-a...arming/swaling

--

Chris

On 13/02/2021 09:04, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
More to the point is, what started it? ...

Currently under investigation.


--
Colin Bignell

On 13/02/2021 09:07, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
Yes but in such cases great care is taken to be sure that it cannot re
ignite before the burners leave the area. Brian


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

--
Colin Bignell

Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote

More to the point is, what started it? Not seen many lightning storms,

You don’t need many, just the one can be enough.

so maybe a human was involved?

"nightjar" wrote in message
...
On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

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.

--
Colin Bignell

Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote

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

That isnt always possible with weather changes.

"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:37:09 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

On 12/02/2021 09:56, GB wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56037220

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

one assumes peat.

I share your perplexity

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.
https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/living-a...arming/swaling

--

Chris