NewsUK NewsThe National TrustThe National Trust has told families to 'avoid' a section of beach it manages in England as it will 'stay hot for days' after a wildfire ripped through the coastline02:55, 14 Aug 2026An urgent 'avoid the area' warning has been issued to beach-goers by the National Trust after a fire ravaged sections of a hugely popular UK beach.‌Although the fire is under control, the National Trust, which runs Formby beach and the nature reserve in the dunes, has warned the ground will 'stay hot for days' and must be avoided. The beach is hugely popular in the north west - not only with Liverpudlians locally, but also Mancunians and Lancastrians as it's one of the closest beaches to major cities like Manchester and Preston.‌Six fire crews raced to a 'significant' blaze on the sand dunes on Formby beach, in Merseyside, on Wednesday evening (August 12). They tackled a fire on sand dunes and gorse around 500 metres by 200 metres in size during the heatwave, reports the Liverpool Echo.‌Fire crews used beaters and hoses to combat the blaze, with extended hose lines stretched across substantial distances to secure water supplies. Challenging conditions arose as strong winds drove the fire through dense gorse.An MFRS drone was also deployed to give crews an aerial perspective of the fire. A fire engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and an MFRS off-road vehicle were also mobilised.The scorched land now poses an ongoing safety risk, the National Trust announced. In an official statement, the charity confirmed that its ranger team had been working alongside MFRS to evaluate the damage caused by the fire.‌It said: "It's still too early to understand the full extent of the fire's impact, but we'll be closely monitoring this ecologically significant habitat and its affected species over the coming months.‌"While the fire is now out, the scorched ground will remain hot for several days, so we ask visitors to avoid the area for their own safety."The National Trust also urged those visiting the Sefton Coast to exercise additional caution during the current hot, dry spell.Visitors were reminded to ensure cigarettes are completely stubbed out, and that barbecues and open fires should never be lit along the coastline.Article continues belowThe organisation added: "We'd like to thank Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for their quick response and hard work in containing and extinguishing the fire."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌The National TrustHeatwaveFitness