Devastating Fire On The Moors Above Ilkley. Why Would Somebody Do This?

[ladybirder]

https://news.sky.com/story/ilkley-moor-fire-intense-blaze-breaks-out-on-west-yorkshire-moorland-11699558

I read there have been some arrests and perhaps it wasn't done deliberately but we know there are people who do. The suffering of the many species of wildlife including ground-nesting birds that will die is just heartbreaking. As I said, why would somebody, anybody, do this? I've driven over those moors many times and they are so beautiful.

[marval]

So do I ladybirder, they need to realise what a dreadful thing they did.

[Mamyalynne]

Nor me, as I said the trouble was that there were multiple seats of fire and copy cats etc - whether that led to things being dropped I don't know.

It was dreadful time and recovery is slow.

[gness]

Exactly, LB...and this time of the year when there will be so many newly born and young....I too hope for a prison sentence but will it be long enough? Not long enough for me when I imagine the horror and fear...x

Beyond me, Mamya....really is.... :-(

[albaqwerty]

it's from The Sun, January last year, seems prison sentences are ''rigged'' for arson against property and loss of life but doesn't seem to cover open land and wildlife :-(

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4117464/arson-punishment-fires-worst-cases-chimney/

[sanmac]

All I can think of is that these three men arrested still have the mentality of some young boys who enjoyed burning ants with a magnifying glass; taking eggs from a nest and smashing them on the ground; ripping the wings off butterflies; and other forms of anti-social, abnormal, and deranged means of enjoying themselves.

[ladybirder]

Terrible news, an even worse fire on National Trust land above village of Marsden was started by a barbecue.
//The National Trust, which owns the moorland, said the area was a “special place” for wildlife and it was likely that mountain hares and nesting birds, such as merlins and curlews, died in the flames.
Curlews have been in dramatic decline in Britain and are considered one of the country’s most important bird conservation priorities, according to the British Trust for Ornithology.
The National Trust said the blaze was believed to have been started by a barbecue at Eastergate, a popular picnic spot.\\. Fire is still burning.
Sorry this is so depressing on a sunny Easter Monday. I won't report any more bad news today after this.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/22/huge-area-of-yorkshire-moorland-destroyed-by-fire-barbecue

[sanmac]

Yes, I read that, LB. There should be a ban on open fires of any kind in these areas especially in this hot weather. But, even if there was you would still have numpties ignoring it.

[ladybirder]

Yep, rules are for other people:-(