FIREFIGHTERS are warning people to be careful following a spate of bush fires on Dartford Heath.

Crews were called to the heath twice in one hour to deal with blazes on March 22, one of which burnt through 500m of undergrowth.

Last year, firemen were called to 40 fires on Dartford Heath.

There have already been 13 call-outs to the area this year, 11 more than this time last year.

At the first incident, which was reported shortly before midday, two fire engines and a team of 10 firefighters were scrambled to deal with the flames.

A ‘fire flogging unit’ also attended the scene in Heath Road, which is a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a high-powered hose specially designed to tackle woodland and grassland fires.

However, after the first fire was extinguished, firemen were called back a short time later at 1pm to reports of a small area of shrubbery alight.

It is not known what the cause of the fires was.

Station manager in the Kent Fire and Rescue Service west group Phil Rice said: “When it is dry, warm and windy these fires can spread very quickly.

“You only need a bit of wind or breeze and you can get caught out.

“About six years ago, two firefighters got burnt on Dartford Heath when the wind changed and it blew back in their faces.”

Although the fires on the heath this week only required three engines to extinguish, larger fires need more.

Watch manager for Dartford Dave Read said: “These types of fires often need lots of resources and divert firefighters away from other incidents such as house fires or road crashes where lives may be in danger.

“There are a number of ways in which people can help us, such as discarding cigarettes and rubbish carefully.

“We’d also like to warn deliberate fire-setters that if they are caught, they face fines or several years in jail - possibly a life sentence if someone is killed as a result of their actions.”