WITH Teignbridge on Amber Alert for extreme heat, the Met Office has declared the district is at ‘very high risk’ of fires.

Detailed Fire Severity Index (FSI) maps are provided by the Met Office for the whole of England and Wales for up to five days ahead.

The Amber Alert for extreme heat for all of Devon covers from Midnight to Midnight from August 11 to 14 and the fire severity warning follows a temporary ban on open fires and barbecues on all common land has been introduced by the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

The ban has been introduced due to the prolonged dry weather and the risk wildfires can pose to people and animals, as well as damage to property and the natural environment.

People who plan to spend time in the National Park are urged to be extremely vigilant to the increased risk of fires.

Firefighters in Newton Abbot, Ashburton and Teignmouth have all made appeals for people to take extreme caution

After barbecues nearly sparked a major blaze on their patch a Teignmouth Firefighter has posted on Facebook: ‘The risk of wildfires is high at the moment.

‘You can help prevent wildfires by

‘Taking a picnic instead of having a BBQ or a campfire

‘Taking your litter home with you. Glass bottles caught under bright sunlight can start a fire which can spread quickly.

‘Find out more at https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/safety/outdoors/wildfires...