Sutton Park left scorched after wildfire

National World - LocalTV

A disposable barbecue sparked a devastating wildfire in Sutton Park, one of Europe's largest urban green spaces. Fire crews battled the blaze for over six hours, with rangers now assessing the environmental damage. Sutton Park remains partially closed as questions mount over enforcement and public safety.

Transcript

00:00A 200-metre stretch of Sutton Park is now little more than charred ash and scorched earth.

00:06No birdsong, no grass, just blackened soil, brittle roots and the smouldering remains of one of Europe's largest urban green spaces.

00:15The blaze started with a disposable barbecue, tossed aside near Baldmere Gate.

00:20No arson, no malicious intent, just thoughtless heat in tinder dry weather.

00:2512 engines, over 50 firefighters, 6 hours of intense containment.

00:31Thermal imaging was used to track hotspots, access roads were sealed, rangers cleared the area, the fire is out but its aftermath isn't.

00:40What's left is stark, 20,000 square metres, roughly 3 football pitches gone.

00:45No regeneration yet, just exposed ground, carbon dust and silence.

00:50This wasn't a one-off, it's the second fire here in a week.

00:54Despite bans, warnings and repeat signage, disposable barbecues still show up and still go wrong.

01:00Sutton Park is a site of special scientific interest.

01:04It's home to nesting birds, rare insects and fragile ecosystems.

01:08Many won't recover, some may not return at all.

01:12The ash now blends into the paths.

01:14The heat has gone but the sense of loss hangs heavy.

01:17For regular visitors, it's not just the damage, it's what it represents.

01:21No injuries, no arrests but the land is marked and memories of what once stood here will take longer to fade than the smoke ever did.

01:30The fire's over but it's left its shape in the ground.

01:33In a place made for families, walkers and wildlife, this is what carelessness costs.

01:38It only takes a moment to cause damage like this and much longer to put it right.

01:43Don't threaten to understand.

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