'Please help us prevent fires' - Staffordshire fire chiefs' plea after crews tackle deliberate fire in Rugeley
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service chiefs are urging people to help reduce the risk of fires in the county this weekend.
The plea comes after crews tackled a deliberate grass fire in Rugeley.
They were called to land off Brick Kiln Lane in Brereton, Rugeley, at 9am on Thursday (June 19) after reports of a fire, affecting an area of around 10 square metres.
Nobody was hurt but the blaze damaged trees, grass and wildlife before it could be extinguished.
The fire was later deemed to have been started deliberately and police are helping out with the investigation.
The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Prevent Delivery Lead Mark Downes, who attended the scene, said: “The recent dry weather increases the risk of fires spreading quickly and getting out of control, so what may start as a bit of fun can have devastating impacts.
“Starting deliberate fires can be the reason why crews aren’t free to respond to other incidents. This can have a catastrophic impact on people living in local communities.“
It comes after the National Police Chiefs Council revealed fire services in England and Wales have tackled 564 wildfires so far this year, a 717 per cent increase on wildfires for the same period in 2024.
Fire crews are currently responding to double the usual demand for outdoor fires, and with the warm weather expected to continue over the weekend, the public are being asked to help reduce the risk of further fires in Staffordshire.
