Army starting fires

[CraftyFatball]

I live near Salisbury Plain, have done for 20 or so years. I am used to the artillery noise, helicopters going overhead etc. However with increasing frequency the plain seems to be catching fire as a direct result of army training activities. As of yesterday there was a huge fire burning and no way of it being put out as it's in an area full of dangerous ordnance on the ground. We've barely had any rain for months ( I am aware that is about to change) AIBU to think the army needs to postpone live ammunition/shelling exercises during drought/heatwaves?
Where I live is regularly engulfed in acrid smoke in the summer months which is an obvious health risk not to mention the wildlife being destroyed. However if anyone complains they are ridiculed with "but it's the ARMY !! they have to train/protect/save/deliver us from evil"

Yanbu. DC are at school nearby.

Who are you complaining to. If it's your local FB page then YABU.

Open a complaint with your council or MP and see what their official response is.

How do you know the Army are responsible? Presumably other people use the area.

I presume it is controlled burning to minimise the affects of accidental or deliberate fires being burnt later on, i don't they are doing it for a dare i presume there is a reason

Yanbu.
But I would contact your local councillor /MP/local paper or someone at the MOD as they are slightly more likely to be able to fix this than Mumsnet

So the army are supposed to plan their training schedules with enough flexibility that they can down tools for a couple of months when it's hot? That's not realistic.

It might not be 'realistic' but hey - it might be the smart thing to do preventing fire from spreading

There's absolutely no commonsense - completely agree with the OP.

???

Really?

Why would you assume that?

Can't fathom some of the responses on this thread.

It would be stupid and unworkable

You are being unreasonable if you haven't complained to a person/organisation who can give you an answer to justify continued training or help you argue against it. Your MP would be a starting point. But such areas in Britain are bursting into flames both spontaneously and because of such things as disposable barbecues, cigarette ends and arson. You don't actually know that manoeuvres have anything to do with it. I live on a very small island and we've had 4 wild fires so far this year.

Drop a line to your local Defences Estates office and complain. They've probably changed name now. Actually looks they have been outsourced...

contact info

Well yes, but what is the reason, and why aren't they keeping the residents informed? It's basic common decency and it's not being done!

Why complain on here rather than contacting your MP or even the MoD to establish if the fires are their doing or if other people have gained access and caused the fire.? You seem very keen to assume it is the Army's doing without taking any steps to find out who is actually responsible.

It's not controlled burning - Salisbury Plain isn't moorland. The fire is within the area controlled by the army and they are dealing with it themselves because of the ordnance that litters the area. The firing ranges are well removed from as many people as possible. It's not as if the fire is belching smoke into people's homes. Local people are being kept informed if they bother to find out (local media of various sorts) but the army aren't wasting time knocking on people's doors.

The fires start and spread from areas that are not accessible to the public so the army definitely responsible and don’t try to deny the fact .

And yes the smoke does belch into homes . I regularly have to close all windows and doors during hot weather and can’t see bottom of my garden due to the smoke .

I'm also local to the Plain and I agree with this

How could doing the basic courtesy of keeping the residents informed be wasting time?! 🤔

They are being kept informed, as I said, via local media of various kinds. Just Googling it brings up quite a few sources. If you lived in the area, you would know where else to go for information if you felt it necessary. If anyone was in danger, obviously it would be different and steps would be taken to evacuate or whatever. But no one is in danger and people in the locality know that.

You obviously don’t feel the smoke affects your wellbeing but it is deeply unpleasant and if you have respiratory problems, it is a danger. There are times when the haze hangs over my village for days and the pollution awful . In all other areas of life technology has advanced and care is taken over the environment. I totally accept this is a military area and training must happen but I honestly can’t believe it can’t be delayed or changed at all in these circumstances. Anyway I realise this is quite a niche aibu so thanks to all comments

Get onto DIO to ask about it?

Of course they don’t. Do you really think the army allows randoms to go waltzing through areas where they fire weapons? And where there are all manner of munitions littering the ground?

Come on now. 😂

YANBU! My friend lives in Chitterne and has said the same
i I suggest you contact the MP

What? On a firing range!
Not a place to put a picnic blanket down is it?!