Fire Service says prevention of wildfires is a shared responsibility
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has been battling heathland fires for more than a week
Wiltshire's Fire and Rescue Service says we all share responsibility for protecting our countryside and open spaces.
It comes as crews from the service continue to face wildfires in its region, putting a strain on resources.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's (DWFRS) Prevention Delivery Manager, Vikki Thomas, says it's becoming a more common issue.
"The data does indicate an increase in wildfires," she said. "Up until mid-June, we've had 564 this year, nationally. If you compare that to 2021, we had 189."
2025 has been "an incredibly dry year", Vikki said, urging us all to take care when we are out and about, or even at home.
She explained that embers from open fires or barbecues can be carried by wind and start a fire, should they land on a particularly dry patch of grass.
DWFRS officials also suspect that some wildfires are started deliberately and are encouraging us to report anything suspicious we see by calling 999 or Crime Stoppers.
The impact of a wildfire is huge, presenting a threat to both human life and animals living in wild spaces.
Vikki described the environmental impact as "massive", saying that plants, animals, birds and reptiles are "being wiped out".
"There's a destruction of their habitat and their vegetation," she said.
Wildfires can pose a risk to homes too, with those living close to heathlands potentially needing to evacuate.
"If you're perhaps an older person or a child, that can be a very scary prospect that you're having to leave your home and your belongings behind whilst you leave and try to get yourself to some area of safety," said Vikki.
It's also having a knock-on impact beyond the borders of Wiltshire and Dorset, with crews from other services being called up to help out, putting a strain on resources in their regions too.
And there's the strain placed on the firefighters themselves, many of whom in Dorset and Wiltshire are "on-call", meaning that have jobs that they will return to after combating a blaze.
Vikki's message to us is to leave only our footprints behind.
"We all want to enjoy the lovely sunny weather that we're having. But yeah, absolutely. Take care. Look after yourselves and really think about the environment that you're in. Leave only your footprints behind, you know, take your litter home and be responsible," she said.
We're also advised to use the What3Words app to help fire service personnel find the exact location of a fire, should we need to report one.