West Cumbria’s fire fighters have been tackling wildfires in the county and have asked visitors and residents to help prevent them from happening.

Crews from multiple stations have attended several wildfire incidents across the county, including on the west coast, over the weekend.

While the firefighters work to protect the communities and environment, they are urging people to enjoy the weather and the countryside safely and responsibly.

A spokesperson for Cumbria fire and rescue said: “Most wildfires in the UK are caused by human activity which, coupled with the sunny weather, means it is important that you take extra care to protect our beautiful Cumbrian countryside.”

Commenting on the events over the weekend David Allen, Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said: “I wanted to take the opportunity to thank our amazing firefighters for the tireless work that they’ve carried out over the weekend.“There has been a number of challenging fires over the weekend which they always meet head on.“I’m incredibly proud of all the staff we have at Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service.“Please could I also ask that residents stay aware from where the emergency services are working and to follow all local advice.”

You can do your bit to protect against wildfires by:

• Having campfires and barbecues in designated areas and ensuring that they are extinguished fully
• Never leaving campfires or barbecues unattended
• Disposing of cigarettes and smoking materials safely

If you see a fire outdoors, remember to move to a place of safety and report it by calling 999.

Do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself and give as much information as you can including the size of the fire, location and terrain, the What3Words app can help.

Always follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.