Wildfire risk remains high after exceptionally busy summer

Fire crews across Jersey, Devon and Cornwall have warned that the threat of wildfires remains significant following an exceptionally busy summer of incidents.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service responded to 24 vegetation fires between June and August — almost double the number recorded during the same period last year.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service dealt with more than 1,000 fires in open areas, while firefighters at Wadebridge Community Fire Station in Cornwall were called to 95 incidents in just 92 days.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service said recent rain had not removed the danger created by months of unusually hot and dry weather.

“Despite recent rainfall, this summer’s record-breaking heat has left some areas vulnerable and the risk of wildfire remains very real,” the service said.

The number of vegetation-related fires in Jersey has risen steadily in recent years. There were 13 between June and August 2025, compared with eight in 2024 and five in 2023.

Firefighters said the dry conditions had placed additional demands on crews, with many incidents caused by bonfires and controlled burns spreading beyond control. Cigarettes and disposable barbecues were also identified as common causes.

One of the most serious fires broke out at Corbière on 24 August, when strong winds caused a bonfire to spread towards nearby property and Jersey Water’s desalination plant.

Eighteen firefighters spent more than four hours tackling the blaze.

Crews also responded to 18 reports of smoke during the summer that turned out to be false alarms. Fourteen of those were linked to controlled burns.

Devon sees sharp rise in open-land fires

Firefighters in Devon also described the summer as exceptionally demanding.

Between 1 June and 18 August, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended 1,737 fires, including 1,058 classified as open-land fires.

That represents a substantial increase on the 928 open-land fires recorded during the same period in 2025 and 553 in 2024.

The service said four of its ten busiest days for calls in the past decade occurred from 25 June onwards, along with three of its ten busiest days for fires attended.

Crews made 5,197 attendances at incidents between 1 June and 18 August, averaging 108 each day from the start of July. That compared with an average of 64.7 daily attendances during the first half of the year.

An extensive blaze at Mincinglake Valley Park in Exeter in August was among the incidents tackled by firefighters.

Cornwall crews face relentless demand

Firefighters at Wadebridge Community Fire Station were also stretched by the number of incidents, attending 95 calls during the 92 days following the beginning of June.

The station's fire chief said crews had often been responding from their homes and workplaces while trying to balance the demands of firefighting with their jobs and family lives.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer Kathryn Billing described the summer as “quite a devastating” period for landowners.

She said firefighters would work with landowners over the winter to improve firebreaks and land management, helping communities prepare for the next period of heightened wildfire risk.

The service also urged the public to take greater care when using barbecues and avoid unnecessary bonfires.

Fire officials across the three areas say preventing fires before they start will be crucial as dry conditions continue to leave vegetation vulnerable.