More than 100 farm fires in last two years across Cambridgeshire sparks warning
More than half of these were between June and August
Farmers in Cambridgeshire are being urged to keep their land safe from the risk of fire as temperatures continue to soar.
New figures from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) show crews have been called to more than 100 farm fires in the last two years, with more than half happening between June and August.
The warning comes as the UK enters its third heatwave this year, with temperatures set to hit the mid-thirties in some parts of the country this week.
Watch Commander Joe Gacon, from the Service’s Community Fire Safety team, said: “One of our biggest risks, especially this time of year, is fires on rural farmland," Watch Commander Joe Gacon, community safety officer at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, said.
"This is because of a number of factors, such as fire spreading quickly across dry land and securing an adequate water supply, as well as finding and accessing the correct location of the incident."
Mr Gacon said farm fires can be far-reaching, including the loss of machinery, livestock and buildings being destroyed.
“A serious fire on a farm can affect the financial stability of even the most well run business,” he said.
During the hot weather, a farmer in Glinton near Peterborough has warned of the dangers of deliberate fires after several suspected arsons at or around her farm last month.
Judith Jacobs said the blazes put livestock, wildlife and homes at risk as firefighters helped stop the fires spreading in the hot conditions.
CFRS is adding a purpose built connection to go with every fire engine in the county to access the farm's water supply when tackling farm fires.
“We do tend to see an increase in calls to fires during spells of warm weather, which results in our crews spending significant time at incidents that could be avoided, Mr Gacon said.
"This is concerning as the crews are committed and cannot respond to other emergencies, but also for local residents being but at risk because of deliberate fire setting.
"Any fire, no matter how small, can quickly get out of control and spread, endangering those around and the fire crews that come to tackle it."
How to stay safe
CFRS have given their top tips on how farmers can best prepare for fires:
- Download the What3words app to give a precise location to emergency services
- Ensure your farm is clearly signposted and make sure you keep all access routes clear in case emergency vehicles need to access the site
- Always keep escape routes clear and free from rubbish or combustible materials
- Always carry a mobile phone in case you need to make an emergency call
- Keep a list of useful telephone numbers with you
- Plan ahead
- Make sure everyone on the farm knows the fire plan
- Keep any firefighting equipment easily accessible and ensure everyone knows where it’s stored
- Ensure any firefighting equipment is serviced regularly to keep it in good working order
- Make sure you have an animal evacuation plan for your livestock in the event of a fire
- Do not store flammable items near livestock.