FIREFIGHTERS from Wellington have been deployed across the UK in past 10 days to help with this summer’s spate of wildfires.

Crews from the town were first called to Hampshire to help battle a blaze in the New Forest which raged for several days and destroyed nearly 400 acres of countryside.

The fire spread when a van caught alight on a main road and it quickly escalated into a major incident which saw 169 appliances from 93 fire stations attend the operation to extinguish it.

Wellington firefighters helped battle a huge blaze in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Wellington firefighters helped battle a huge blaze in the New Forest, Hampshire. (DSFR)

The Wellington firefighters worked through the night using a Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) high volume pumping unit (HVP) to provide water to the fire ground and support their Hampshire colleagues.

On their return to Wellington, they were almost immediately re-deployed to South Wales with another HVP to support Welsh crews fighting a wildfire which had been burning for two weeks in Blaenavon, near Abergavenny.

A spokesperson said: “The HVP is being used to fill South Wales Fire and Rescue Service water carriers and tankers being provided by local farmers.

Wellington fire crews were in South Wales pumping water to help tackle a series of wildfires.
Wellington fire crews were in South Wales pumping water to help tackle a series of wildfires. (DSFR)

“This equipment is filling a 20,000 litre dam that is being used by a helicopter to drop on the fire where crews cannot get to.

“Everybody we have met from all other brigades and locals working alongside the fire service have been brilliant, welcoming, and resilient

“It has been a pleasure.”

The Wales fire brigade said at one point it was dealing with 14 separate wildfires across the region and was being aided by about 200 troops from Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, supported by 22 Engineer Regiment.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Adam Openshaw said he wanted to ‘thank fire crews from across the UK who have come to assist us’.

Smoke from the Welsh fires drifted across the Bristol Channel and could be smelled in parts of Somerset.