23/07/2026
🔥 Campfires Can Become Wildfires 🔥
Last night, firefighters from Braunton and Barnstaple Fire Stations attended a fire on West Hill, Braunton, believed to have started from a campfire.
Crews worked into the early hours to bring the fire under control before returning this morning to extinguish remaining hotspots and assess the damage.
During the incident, firefighters found evidence that multiple aerosol cans had been thrown onto the fire. When exposed to heat, aerosols can explode violently, sending metal fragments flying and significantly increasing the risk to anyone nearby, including members of the public and emergency responders.
The current spell of hot, dry weather has left our countryside extremely vulnerable. It only takes a single campfire or discarded ember for a fire to spread rapidly through dry grass, undergrowth and woodland, with devastating consequences for wildlife, the environment and nearby properties.
Parents and carers: with the school holidays now underway, please take a few moments to speak with your children and teenagers about the dangers of lighting campfires or playing with fire outdoors. What may seem harmless can quickly become a major incident, tying up emergency resources and putting lives at risk.
We know the vast majority of people enjoy the countryside responsibly, and with the support of our community we can help prevent incidents like this from happening again.
🚒 Please don’t light campfires or disposable barbecues in the countryside during this prolonged dry spell. If you discover a fire, move to a place of safety and call 999 immediately.
