THE story you had last week about the amount of small fires being lit in the Cowdenbeath Community Woodland is a worrying one.

Normally in April and May there is so much moisture about that no matter what sort of fires are lit in the woodland there would be no danger of the forest going up.

However, the unusually dry April left the whole area, as the Cowdenbeath Environment Group members suggested, just perfect to go up if people were careless with their camp fires.

I can see how the clear dry nights has attracted folk in to the woods for it is indeed a nice pleasant, and quiet place and for kids especially a place where adventure can be found.

However, by the looks of the picture in the Times some have been using it as a under age drinking den.

These youngsters maybe are in now thinking that there small fires will in any way endanger the Community Woodland but the thing is that if a gust of wind carries a spark it can soon cause havoc in very dry conditions.

I would say to them think about what could happen of an area of the forest caught fire. It is a lovely retreat on the edge of the town which is used by many people in different ways.

If an outbreak of fire was to take a grip in dry conditions it could cause untold damage which the Environment Group would struggle to sort.

Indeed, it would be a complete disaster for the town so hopefully the people involved will ensure that what ever they are doing is done sensibly and safely.

After all if there was an outbreak of fire it might be difficult to safely get out of the woodland, again something they may not have thought of. Plenty to think about for the adventurers.

WOODIE,

Cowdenbeath.