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Firefighters Battle Record Summer Blaze Season
27 Sep
Summary
- Fire service responded to over 2,000 incidents in one month alone.
- Prolonged hot and dry weather caused sustained, unprecedented demand.
- Control room staff handled 6,041 calls, with 864 fires attended in July.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue reported "record-breaking" demand this summer, responding to over 2,000 incidents in a single month. Sustained hot and dry weather conditions led to unprecedented levels of activity, particularly in July. During that month, control room staff managed 6,041 calls, and firefighters attended 2,008 incidents, of which 864 were fires, including 547 open-air blazes.
The fire service acknowledged the "sustained levels of demand in challenging conditions" and recognized the public's cooperation in mitigating risks. From early July onwards, the service faced "exceptionally high demand" with relentless activity. As the seasons change, the service is preparing for autumn and winter challenges like flooding and storms, while also monitoring the El Niño event.
