Prolonged hot weather has placed Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue under significant pressure, the service has warned, after a surge in call-outs over a recent four-day period.
Crews stretched as incidents rise
The service said it attended more than 120 incidents between Friday and Monday, roughly a 25% increase on the number of call-outs for the same dates over the previous three years. Assistant chief fire officer Stuart Smith described the period as one in which operational resources were heavily taxed.
"Friday to Monday saw us mobilise 172 fire appliances to a number of large-scale incidents… putting extreme demand on our resources that we have available to respond to these incidents,"
Among the major incidents is a large fire at Holme Fen nature reserve, south of Peterborough, which began on Monday and remained active at the time of the statement. The fire service said crews were expected to stay at the scene for a further two to three days because the blaze is deep-seated in peat. Firefighters are also tackling a separate peat fire in Whittlesey.
Public safety and practical advice
Smith urged residents to be cautious in open spaces and follow straightforward precautions to reduce fire risk. His recommendations included:
- Do not leave litter, particularly glass or other items that can ignite;
- Avoid disposable barbecues on grass or heathland;
- Parents should explain to children how quickly fires can spread.
The service also publicly thanked local farmers who have supplied additional water to assist firefighting operations, a resource that is particularly valuable when tackling peat and grass fires in remote locations.
Why peat fires are hard to tackle
Peat can burn beneath the surface, which makes blazes hard to extinguish and prone to smouldering for extended periods. That is why crews remain at affected sites for days and ask members of the public to keep clear so operations can continue safely and without interruption.
| Period | Incidents attended | Appliances mobilised (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Recent Fri–Mon | More than 120 | 172 |
| Same dates (avg, previous 3 years) | ~25% fewer | Not specified |
Residents in and around Holme Fen and Whittlesey have been asked to remain vigilant and, where possible, to keep away from active firefighting scenes to allow crews to work safely. The fire service continues to monitor the situation and will issue updates if circumstances change.
Anyone who spots a fire should call 999 and give clear information about the location and extent of the blaze. Members of the public are also asked to follow local authority and emergency services' guidance on access and safety while operations continue.
