Fire crews tackle fire in countryside near Wellington on one of hottest days of year

FOUR fire crews from three different stations were on Saturday (July 11) fighting a wildfire which broke out near Wellington.

The blaze, which Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) described as a ‘fire in the open’ was spotted close to the village of Burlescombe, on the Devon-Somerset border.

A DSFR spokesperson said: “We have four fire engines attending a fire in the open in this area.

“Crews are at work with one main jet, one hose reel jet, fire beaters.”

Firefighters attending the incident, which was reported at about 11.30 am, were mobilised from Wellington, Cullompton, and Tiverton.

The spokesperson said further details would be released when more information was available.

The blaze comes after a warnings by both DSFR and Forestry England of the risk of wildfires in the countryside during the hot weather.

Both organisations reminded people to ‘never to light a fire or barbecue in forests or woodlands’.

A spokesperson said: “While the risk of wildfire in the countryside is always high, a hot, dry start to summer has created extremely high risk conditions for fires to start and get out of control.

“As this weekend predicts ongoing high temperatures and increasing wind speed, the Met Office’s natural hazards partnership has issued an ‘extreme wildfire alert’, prompting agencies to ask the public for their support.

“Fire can travel at huge speed both above ground and through soil, popping up and continuing to burn elsewhere.

“Something as small as a cigarette butt or disposable barbecue can quickly become a large and dangerous emergency situation.

“Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has already attended forest fires caused by careless actions this summer, and attended 51 incidents in woods and forests last year.

“Several of these call-outs were also required because of human carelessness, including at least one barbecue that was not properly disposed of.”

Forestry England area manager Katy Mansell said: “While hot, sunny weather feels like the perfect time to get together with friends and family in nature, I cannot overstate the danger of lighting barbecues and fires in the countryside.”

DSFR wildfire specialist Ian Donnovan said: “Every year, we see so many preventable wildfires caused by people lighting fires and barbecues in the countryside.

“Wildfires can begin with just a spark, or a gust of wind blowing a babecue flame.

“Wildfires can take many days to extinguish have an impact our wildlife, ecosystems, and local communities.

“Wildfires take resources away from other emergencies.”

UPDATE: DSFR said the fire was extinguished by 3.30 pm and the crews were now ‘in attendance’ rather than actively firefighting, with a thermal imaging camera used to check for any hotspots.