Suffolk Fire and Rescue have seen nearly 400 wildfire reports this year and expects it to get worse
The UK Health Security Agency has warned emergency services could face extra demand and pressure
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service say they’ve already dealt with almost 400 reports of wildfires in 2024, and with the heatwave continuing, the warning is clear: stay safe and take precautions.
“We've seen around 385 incidents reported,” said Group Commander Aeneas Postlethwaite. “Over the last few days, we were attending a forest fire at Brandon Country Park.”
He added: “At the moment, we're seeing the Met Office predictor fire severity index across Suffolk going to high and very high in places. That means we've had long periods of dry weather with hot temperatures, and that increases the risk of fire starting; it gives ideal conditions for fires to start and spread very quickly.”
How they're preparing
To prepare for the surge, Suffolk’s 35 fire stations are on alert daily. “We monitor availability of our on-call staff and have a county day crew team who are very flexible,” he explained. “When we get large-scale incidents, they take up a lot of our resources and are very difficult to extinguish.”
Crews are also battling the heat themselves. “We have to ensure our crews are well looked after, it's very hot, they're working in harder conditions, and we try to keep them hydrated and cool, with rest periods built in.”
What the public can do to help
But Postlethwaite said public behaviour plays a huge role in reducing demand: “I'd ask them to follow a few simple rule, do not light open fires or barbecues in the countryside unless you're in a designated area, dispose of cigarette butts properly, and take rubbish home, especially glass and foil where the sun can bounce off them.”
And if you see a fire? “Please ring 999 immediately,” he urged. “Try not to tackle it yourself, these are very dangerous, they move very quickly, and they're difficult to extinguish. If you have the what3words app, use it — it’s crucial for us. It allows us to pinpoint a 3x3 metre area anywhere.”
The service is also asking people to think twice before releasing sky lanterns, especially during wedding season. “As pretty as they are, they pose a significant risk to starting wildfires, especially on farms where livestock can be injured.”
He also shared a warning for anyone tempted by a swim: “We urge people to respect the water. It might look refreshing, but there can be very dangerous currents underneath. Don’t enter the water under the influence of alcohol, and don’t swim alone.”
Finally, he said: “We are expecting to have a busy summer… and we do worry. These fires can impact residents too; their homes and livelihoods are at risk. So we’re making sure our resources are appropriate for what the risk is looking like.”