Norfolk’s fire service experiences busiest summer amid wildfire risks
Cooling weather expected but fire hazards persist
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service reports its busiest summer in years, driven by persistent heatwaves and a severe drought across the county.
As the Country faced several heatwaves over the last few months, emergency services have been working hard nation wide.
Area manager for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, Stefan Rider has served with the service for 30 years and described the recent months as his busiest period yet:
"'Ive been in the fire service for over 30 years now. This is definitely the busiest summer we've had, even looking back against 2022, the previous hottest summer we'd had,
We are definitely busier on average across the entire service compared to five years ago. We are 100% busier."
He praised all staff for their dedication, recognising the challenges of working in extreme heat and managing a record-breaking number of calls.
"it's physically arduous working in this heat, but also our supporting staff who keep the service running, the control room who are taking all the calls..."
Despite the prospect of cooler weather approaching, its being warned that wildfire conditions remain unchanged.
"When the weather is cooler, when there is a bit of wet weather, it obviously makes it easier for us to work,
initially some of that rain will kind of just be evaporated straight back up again because the ground is so hard and so, so hot at the moment,
I think it will take a prolonged spell of rain for us to really see the wildfire conditions ease off."
The public is urged to stay safe and vigilant, refraining from activities that could inadvertently spark fires, such as using disposable barbecues or holding bonfires.
The combination of heightened wildfire risks and demanding weather conditions has tested the resilience of the fire service and local communities alike.
Efforts to address these fires have been supported by the public, with many providing essentials like water and food to help crews during their operations.
"We get a lot of positive feedback from the public and a lot of people are coming out to try and support us. We've had people bringing out bottles of water and things like that and offering food to our crews who have worked really hard" he said.
As temperatures drop, the fire service remains alert to potential threats, with preventative measures and timely communication crucial for ongoing safety.
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