A large fire on Cannock Chase has led Staffordshire County Council to close a section of Chase Road while crews damp down smouldering areas and assess damage.
Fire began on Sherbrook Valley heathland
Fire crews from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the West Midlands Fire Service were called to a blaze at Brocton at about 6pm on Thursday 30 July. The incident burned an area described by officials as roughly the size of a football pitch across heath and moorland on Sherbrook Valley, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
In response, the county council has temporarily closed Chase Road between the Camp Road turning and Brocton Nursery to reduce the risk of reignition. The closure is expected to remain in place until at least Monday 3 August, when it will be reviewed.
Wildlife and habitat losses
Officers say several animals were killed in the fire, including reptiles and amphibians such as adders and toads, and a large area of rare heathland was destroyed. Crews remained on site the following day conducting damping-down operations to extinguish hotspots.
"The fire service was fortunately able to bring the fire under control but we may not be so lucky next time, especially with the site being so close to irreplaceable veteran oak trees. Please stop bringing barbecues onto the Chase. This is the devastation they can cause."
Hayley Coles, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, warned residents to avoid taking barbecues into the Chase and urged people who usually travel along Chase Road to make alternative arrangements.
- Incident location: Sherbrook Valley, Brocton (Cannock Chase Country Park)
- Road closure: Chase Road, Camp Road turning to Brocton Nursery
- Initial call-out time: c. 6pm, Thursday 30 July
- Closure review date: expected on or after Monday 3 August
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area burned | Approx. football-pitch size |
| Protected status | SSSI and SAC |
| Species affected | Adders, toads and other reptiles/amphibians |
Context and practical advice
The Environment Agency has previously declared a drought for the region, increasing the risk that small ignition sources can spread rapidly across dry heath and grassland. The county council’s message is clear: avoid open flames, do not bring disposable or other barbecues into country parks, and take litter home or place it in designated bins — particularly glass, which can act as a magnifying lens and start fires.
Visitors planning to use Cannock Chase over the weekend should check Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service social channels for updates on the road closure and access restrictions. Where possible, consider alternative routes or postponing non-essential visits until the area has been declared safe and reopened.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of protected habitats to accidental ignition and the challenges of protecting veteran trees and scarce wildlife during periods of dry weather.
