Fire!

It's hard to overestimate the damage that can be caused by fire, and last night we saw a devastating example of what can happen with the fire in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. My heart goes out to the French people, and all those who love such attractive and special buildings.

York too had it's big fire in York Minster in 1985, but not on the same scale. Last night there was another fire near York. I had planned my first walk on Skipwith Common, a few miles south-south-east of the city, only to find in local news reports that firefighters were trying to put out a fire there. I had another look at news reports this morning (there was no more information than last night), and decided to go anyway, having worked out several escape routes if things got difficult.

Skipwith Common is a wonderful extensive nature reserve, and parts of the site include the remains of an airfield from the Second World War. I walked from Skipwith village, across the common and onward to the main road from Selby to York to catch a bus home.

I came across the sight of scorched ground as I reached the western part of the nature reserve. Fortunately the area affected was relatively small, and should recover quite quickly, but it was still a sad sight.

Ian

[carol white]

A haunting image. Last night's fire at Notre Dame Cathedral was heartbreaking. Relief that it is to be restored however many years it takes

[Shanne]

Notre Dame was horrific to see. But in nature, although fire can be a sad sight, there are things that regenerate on that earth - fire weed / London pride / rosebay willow herb, for example. That is food for elephant hawk moth caterpillars.

[Peter H]

Yes, sad about Notre Dame, but out of it good will come. I saw a documentary some while ago about the Australian ecosystem and how bush fires are a necessary part of regeneration in some areas.

[Sarah Bremner]

Oh that's such a pity...hope all the seedlings and grasses soon come to life again.

[Pyrrhula]

So sad, so sorry, so great dissaster. The different between fires in nature and buldings are; nature restor themselfs.

[Steve and Pam Winfield]

How very sad your heart goes out to devastation coursed by fires .:)

[gloria jones]

Such a sad image...Fires are scary wherever they happen.

[Fisher Family]

@carolmw @shannejw @peadar @sarah19 @pyrrhula @stevepam @seattlite Thank you all for your comments, they are all appreciated.

Although serious, the effects of this fire will probably be short term. The fire doesn't appear to have penetrated into the peat which lies below some of the site, and hasn't done much damage to trees. Most damage was done to heath ground cover, which will quickly grow back.

Ian