FIREFIGHTERS in Devon and Somerset were called to 970 outdoor incidents during England's joint-warmest summer on record. 

A “significant” rise in wildfires attended by firefighters in the two counties has been attributed in part to this summer's high temperatures.

The Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service was called to 970 outdoor incidents across four categories between June 1 and August 31, 2022.

The service attended 395 similar incidents in the same timeframe last year and 516 the year before.

The Met Office has said that four of the five warmest summers on record have occurred since 2003 “as the effects of human-induced climate change are felt on England’s summer temperatures”.

Summer 2022 was also the sixth driest on record in England.

The outdoor incidents figures come from a freedom of information request submitted by the County Gazette.

We asked the fire service to disclose the number of incidents it was called to between June 1 and August 31 in 2020, 2021 and 2022 in four categories. 

They were heathland/moorland, in the open (large), in the open (small) and standing crops. 

Chard & Ilminster News: Wimbleball Lake in Exmoor pictured in September 2022.Wimbleball Lake in Exmoor pictured in September 2022. (Image: Paul Silvers)

 

Several large fires were tackled in Somerset this summer, which saw an amber warning for extreme heat issued by the Met Office for the region. 

The Wessex area was also moved into drought status by the Environment Agency after experiencing some of its driest conditions in nearly 90 years.

In July, crews from Wellington and Taunton fought a one-hectare fire on Ringdown Common, described as having an unknown origin.

On August 9, a blaze saw 15 acres of grassland destroyed by a large fire in North Curry, near Taunton, which took around two hours to extinguish.

Later that month, a fire involving “around 25 acres of stubble and crops” in a field west of Frome was tackled by firefighters from four stations.

Some outdoor fires categorised as “small” were also fought across the region, including one in Middlezoy involving “a quantity of rubbish” on waste ground.

A fire involving a pile of tyres required a police presence in Rode due to its proximity to the A361 and the risk posed to drivers by the smoke. 

A Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The extremely hot weather undoubtedly contributed to the significant rise in wildfires this summer.

“Most wildfires are started by human behaviour – a BBQ, campfire, discarded cigarette, or glass lying on dry ground magnifying the sun’s rays.

“They can also sometimes start due to a bonfire (which was intended to be controlled) getting out of control.

“The advice and guidance we released over the summer is still relevant in terms of the precautions people can take reducing the risk of wildfires during hot and dry weather.”

During the summer, the fire service urged the public not to have barbecues or campfires in the countryside during period of dry weather. 

It also asked people to avoid having bonfires and told smokers to take care about where they disposed their cigarettes.