Peatland fire like 'boiling in the bag' for crews

5 hours ago

Aimee Dexterand

John Devine,at Holme Fen

News image — Fire crews are facing high temperatures as well as the danger of falling trees

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service A large green space on fire with grey plumes of smoke and a firefighter in a blue uniform and yellow helmet using a hosepipe to put the fire out. — Fire crews are facing high temperatures as well as the danger of falling trees

A fire chief has said temperatures faced by crews tackling a peatland wildfire are so high they feel like "boil in the bag" meals.

The blaze at Holme Fen Nature Reserve, near Peterborough, broke out on Saturday, the second fire there in just two weeks.

Area commander Wayne Swales said about 50% of the 660-acre (270-hectare) site had been burnt - and temperatures were up to 60C (140F).

"It's indescribable in the centre: you've got peat on fire, you've got trees falling down around you, so we've not only got to try and deal with the fire, we've got to make sure our people are safe," he added.

Swales said firefighters were facing "some of the most difficult working conditions".

Why is Holme Fen wildfire lasting days?

John Devine/BBC Wayne Swales has short grey hair. He is wearing a white shirt and a silver Hi-Vis jacket. He is standing on a road next to woodland. — Wayne Swales said crews could remain at the site until the end of the week

He said firefighters were working in gear designed to protect them from external heat, as well as coping with the scorching temperatures of the blaze itself.

"It is boiling in the bag I would suggest on our crews."

Peat is formed over millions of years from an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter.

Peatland fires can be hard to detect and hard to put out. They can spread undetected as they may not produce obvious flames or much smoke.

Swales added that crews had changed their tactics on Tuesday to try and "reduce the impact resource-wise".

"It will allow us to get the rest [and] the breathing space for the inevitable more shouts and more calls that are going to come with that hot weather through the week," he added.

The fire service has said crews are expected to be at the reserve for the rest of the week.

Mousumi Bakshi/BBC A firefighter is standing in peatland. There are several hoses on the left which are on a pathway between vegetation. — Crews have been at the site since Saturday

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More than 40 firefighters first went to the site on 27 July to tackle a blaze described as "deep seated in peat", making it likely to burn for longer.

The first fire is being investigated as suspected arson, and Cambridgeshire Police has appealed for information.

Swales said peatlands were hard to tackle.

"Peat fires, by their nature burn into the ground, as you have the vegetation above the ground and that burns as well so we're working on two fires at once."

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service A drone image of a field where smoke can be seen in the sky, with trees burning and red fire engines parked on the side road. — The fire at the nature reserve broke out on Saturday

Brigades from across the East of England joined forces to fight the flames, including from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.

Swales said it had "put huge amounts of pressure" on the service. It has called for extra crews from Merseyside to help.

"We've got our whole-time crews here who are full-time firefighters, we've got our on-call crews here who are doing their normal day jobs, and in the background we've got all their families that are not seeing their loved ones," he said.

The fire chief thanked crews, support staff and volunteers for their help.

"This is a massive operation to keep going, and to keep people rested and relaxed as well as working really hard, and that keeps that machine going."