Accidental wildfire extinguished in wake of doubled demand in Staffordshire

We’re currently responding to double the amount of outdoor fires when compared to last week in Staffordshire.

With temperatures soaring across the county, emergency fire calls have been increasing, and are expected to peak this weekend.

Six of our crews worked hard to extinguish a wildfire at Park Hall Country Park in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday (Wednesday 18 June), which has since been deemed accidental.

At its height, the fire involved an area of approximately 40 metres by 50 metres.

Station Manager Ben Woodward, who attended the scene, said: “We’re calling on people in Staffordshire to take extra precautions when they’re out and about enjoying the hot weather. If you know how to limit the chances of accidental fires happening, you’re going to help us keep people safe during times of significant demand.

“Crews are currently dealing with an increased amount of grassland and outdoor fires this week. Dry and hot conditions cause outdoor fires to spread rapidly, which can pose significant challenges for our firefighters.

“By taking simple steps to dispose of cigarettes properly, to put glass bottles in bins or not using disposable BBQs in the countryside, you’ll be helping to free up fire crews and to reduce the risk of serious fires in your neighbourhood.

“Thankfully, the fire at Park Hall Country Park was quickly extinguished, limiting the damage to grass, shrubs and trees and nobody was injured, but the outcome could have been very different.

“Please take some time to read through our website on how to prevent outdoor fires. There are small tips that everyone can take away which will collectively make a huge difference in keeping people safe, and in turn, helping the whole of Staffordshire to enjoy the warm weather safely.”

Read more about how you can stay safe during the warm weather here.