Cambridgeshire's fire service was pushed to its limits over the weekend after attending 20 separate fires in a matter of hours, the authority has said. Incidents were reported across the county, with two large-scale field blazes among the most serious.
Major field fires draw large response
On Saturday afternoon crews were deployed to a fire that spread across three large fields at Peakirk, near Peterborough, where about 35 firefighters tackled the blaze from about 15:30 BST. The following day, a separate field fire at Whittlesey required the attendance of roughly 50 firefighters.
| Day | Location | Approx. firefighters |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Peakirk (near Peterborough) | 35 |
| Sunday | Whittlesey | 50 |
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said emergency calls came in from across the county on Saturday, stretching resources as crews worked to contain fast-moving blazes on dry land.
Risks on farmland and public safety advice
Group Commander James Ball warned that fires affecting farmland are particularly hazardous during hot, dry conditions, citing issues such as rapid fire spread and difficulties securing adequate water supplies and access to the exact incident location.
"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,"
He emphasised the potentially severe consequences for farms, including the loss of machinery, livestock, stores of hay and straw, and damage to buildings. The fire service urged farmers to make their sites easy to find, keep escape routes clear and have plans in place for evacuating animals.
- Residents were advised to avoid lighting bonfires or garden fires during hot weather.
- The fire service suggested moving mirrors off windowsills and thinking twice about barbecues.
- Farmers should signpost access and prepare animal evacuation arrangements.
Investigation and community impact
Cambridgeshire Police said an investigation into suspected arson is under way in connection with the incidents. Local communities face both immediate disruption from fires and longer-term effects if agricultural buildings, crops or livestock are lost.
The scale of the weekend's incidents will be considered in operational reviews as the service assesses resource deployment and prevention messaging ahead of continued warm conditions. Households, landowners and visitors are being asked to follow guidance to reduce the risk of further blazes.
