Ilfracombe Fire Station

11/04/2026

An interesting incident that Ilfracombe fire crews were mobilised to this week. Bad doggy!!!

🚒 A small incident with a big lesson…

Yesterday, we were mobilised to reports of a smell of burning at a property.

On arrival, nothing was immediately obvious, no visible fire, no clear source, but that distinctive smell told us something wasn’t right 🤔

After a systematic search, we traced it to an unexpected culprit…

A family dog had picked up a lithium battery from a child’s toy, taken it back to its bed, and given it a chew 🐶🔋 Fortunately the dog was ok!

This had caused the battery to fail and go into thermal runaway, generating intense heat and starting to burn the bedding 🔥

Thankfully, the cause was discovered early and didn’t develop any further, but it could very easily have been a different outcome.

⚠️ Safety message

Lithium batteries are now in so many everyday items, toys, gadgets, tools, but when damaged, they can become extremely dangerous:

🔥 They can overheat rapidly and ignite
💨 They release toxic gases when burning
⏱ Fires can develop very quickly with little warning

✅ Simple steps to stay safe:

🐶Keep loose or spare batteries out of reach of children and pets
🚂Avoid leaving batteries lying around or within toys that can be easily accessed
🪫Never use or keep damaged batteries
🔋 Store and dispose of batteries safely and responsibly

At Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, we’re seeing more incidents involving lithium batteries, and this is a great example of how everyday situations can escalate quickly.

A really positive outcome yesterday, but one that serves as a reminder to stay aware.

Stay safe 🔥

Woolacombe Fire Station
Ilfracombe Fire Station

20/11/2025

Ilfracombe Fire Station would like to appeal to any local businesses that may be able to donate a prize to the Christmas Draw in aid of the Firefighters Charity.

Some of our firefighters have benefitted from the amazing services offered by the charity and we would love to help raise some funds to allow them to continue their fantastic work.

Thank you.

🎄Barnstaple Fire Station – Christmas Prize Draw in Aid of The Fire Fighters Charity!🎄

We’re excited to announce that we’re putting together a Christmas Prize Draw, taking place on 19th December 2025, to raise vital funds for The Fire Fighters Charity. The charity provides incredible support to firefighters, fire service personnel, and their families, often quietly and with genuine care, helping people through some of their toughest moments.

Before the draw goes live, we’re asking for the support of our amazing community ❤️

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be (festively!) scrounging for prizes to make this fundraiser truly special. If you or your business can donate anything, items, gift vouchers, hampers, experiences, or services, we would be hugely grateful. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us make a bigger impact.

⭐ How you can help:

• Donate a prize for the draw
• Share this post to help spread the word
• Support the event by entering when ticket sales open

All donated prizes will be promoted on our social media and highlighted as part of the draw, giving us the chance to recognise and thank the brilliant local businesses and community members who get involved.

We’re aiming to collect all prizes by 11th December so we can showcase them in the lead-up to the draw.

⸻

🔥 A personal note from Firefighter Adam Payne:

“I was fortunate enough to spend a week at The Fire Fighters Charity’s Harcombe House recently. During my time there, I experienced first-hand the kind of support that so many of us in the fire service, and our families can truly benefit from. It gave me the chance to step back, reset, and gain the tools to look after myself so I can continue looking after others.

We often focus so much on helping the people we serve that we forget to take care of ourselves, and this reminded me how important that balance is. Seeing the difference the charity makes, with such genuine care, really opened my eyes to how vital their work is.

This prize draw is our way of giving something back and helping ensure that support is there for anyone who might need it.”

⸻

If you’d like to donate a prize or find out more, please message the page, we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for your support. Let’s make this a fantastic festive fundraiser! 🎁🔥

19/11/2025

International Men’s Day 2025 🌍

Today we’re recognising International Men’s Day! A chance to celebrate the positive contributions men make in our communities, our workplaces, and our lives.

At Ilfracombe Fire Station, we are proud of the men within our team who serve with professionalism, compassion, and dedication. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting our community, or mentoring the next generation of firefighters, their commitment helps keep North Devon safe every single day.

This year’s theme focuses on wellbeing, positive role modelling, and building supportive communities. We want to highlight the importance of reaching out, talking openly, and looking after one another, both on and off station.

To all the men at our station, across DSFRS, and throughout our community:
Thank you for everything you do 🙏
If you’re struggling or know someone who might be, please remember, it’s okay to talk, and support is always available 🤝
Stay safe, look after each other, and keep being positive influences in your communities👨‍🚒❤️

Some old faces in this photo... about time we took a new team photograph!!!

27/10/2025

Massive congratulations and respect from us all at Ilfracombe Fire Station. A total legend.

While many of you are reading this, the Fire fighter in the photo taken a few years ago, Crew Manager Neil Shires will be on a Drill night at Lynton Fire Station something that happens every Monday night. Nothing unusual in that, except Neil will have completed 40 years of service for the fire service currently Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service working at Lynton Fire Station today 27th Oct 2025.
This is something quite amazing, someone who has given his free time to offer his duty when called to help people in our community and those who visit the area, He has helped in fire stations all over Devon and Somerset when we move about to cover leave and sickness, Helped train every fire-fighter who has walked through our doors here at Lynton since he joined the station, including me, and supported local training in N Devon.
As a fire fighter he also drives all the vehicles we have on station. He has supported Station officers and Sub Officers and myself throughout his career.
Operationally he has attended every type of incident we can have here from aircraft incidents, motorcycle Cars, Lorries and coach accidents and fires, all types of building fires, medical emergencies, chemical incidents, wild fires on the moors, animal rescues, flooding incidents, rescues of people, and assisted the Ambulance and Coastguard when we have been called to help as a fire station. During his career he has also helped at every fundraising event we have held in Lynton on behalf of the Fire-Fighters Charity formally The Fire-fighters Benevolent Fund and local charities which has helped us raise over £20,000 as a fire station during his time.

So, from Myself, WM Chris Hope, all the current serving crew here at Lynton and all the past crew of whom there are many, the fire fighters you have helped train In North Devon, the fire stations you have helped cover and the Local population, Thank you Neil for the first 40 years of you fire career.
Congratulations and really very well done that man.

16/05/2025

🖤 In Memory of Our Fallen Firefighters 🖤

It is with great sadness that we join the wider fire service community in mourning the loss of two firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, who tragically lost their lives following a major fire at Bicester Motion on Thursday evening. A member of the public also died in this heartbreaking incident, and two other firefighters remain in hospital with serious injuries.

As a mark of respect, flags are being flown at half-mast, and we will join others across the country in observing a two-minute silence today at 12 noon to honour their courage, commitment, and ultimate sacrifice.

Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of those affected, and with the entire Bicester community at this difficult time.

13/05/2025

Drills last night with Ilfracombe Fire crews focused on space creation techniques when we are called to road traffic collisions.

We practiced our door entry and removal, b-post removal, pedal pulls, roof flaps and roof removal, dashboard roll and dashboard lift techniques. The focus was to ensure all personnel got some practical time using our battery powered hydraulic rescue tools.

We often set up real-time scenario based training but sometimes it is good to go back to basics and improve our skills in a slower more learning-focused environment.

Shortly after drills we were called out for several hours to a large agricultural fire near Barnstaple. A busy evening for Ilfracombe Fire crews!

15/04/2025

Ilfracombe fire crews were pleased to accept their Ilfracombe Community Heroes Cake Award from Nostalgia Bakes last night at drills! 🍰🎂🍨🥧
Thank you very much! Delicious but probably not ideal with our annual fitness testing due soon! 😳

15/04/2025

Barry spent a large part of his career at Ilfracombe Fire station as Watch Manager in both a wholetime and on-call capacity, thank you for your service!

07/04/2025

!!!RESCUE!!!

Ilfracombe fire crews were mobilised to Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe this evening to a 12 year old boy stuck in mud. On arrival they found the boy in the stream where he had ventured in to rescue his basketball and he was indeed thoroughly stuck in mud up above his knees!

Crews used a short extension ladder and small tools to dig the uninjured but slightly embarrassed boy from the mud.

Ilfracombe fire crews are Water Rescue First responders meaning they are trained and equipped to conduct rescues in and around shallow or slow moving water using wading techniques. They were backed up by the Technical Rescue Team (TRT) based at Barnstaple Fire station who are trained in rescues from deep or fast flowing water using swimming techniques where necessary or using their powered boat, Fortunately the TRT was not required this evening.

Please take care in and around water now that the weather is warming up.

02/04/2025

A rare amber wildfire alert has been issued for parts of the UK as temperatures rise and dry conditions are expected to continue into the Easter holidays.

With an increased risk of wildfires, please do the following to protect everyone:

- Avoid using disposable barbecues in dry, grassy areas
- Never leave fires unattended and ensure they are fully extinguished
- Always put ci******es out properly before disposing of them
- Dispose of rubbish responsibly—sunlight reflecting off glass can ignite fires.
- If you see a wildfire, call 999 immediately and provide as much detail as possible.

🐭 🌳 🚬 🧑‍🚒 ❤️‍🔥

🖼️ Photo shows a devastating wildfire caused by a disposable BBQ at Baggy Point (Devon)