20/08/2026
🚒🔥 Current Fire Safety Advice: Please Avoid Controlled Burns 🔥🚒
Due to the prolonged dry weather and reduced rainfall across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, vegetation, grassland, hedgerows and agricultural land remain particularly vulnerable to fire.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is currently advising against controlled burns.
Even fires that are planned and supervised can spread rapidly and unpredictably in dry conditions, potentially putting people, property, wildlife and the environment at risk.
We strongly encourage landowners, farmers and members of the public to postpone any planned controlled burns until weather conditions improve.
If, despite this advice, you believe a controlled burn is essential, please notify our Fire Control team beforehand by calling:
📞 03333 990043
Our Fire Control team can record the details of your burn, provide safety advice and help prevent unnecessary emergency responses if smoke is reported by members of the public.
If a controlled burn cannot be postponed:
✅ Ensure the fire is supervised at all times by a responsible person.
✅ Keep the burn small and manageable.
✅ Create a fire break around the area by removing dry vegetation and combustible materials.
✅ Have a suitable water supply and firefighting equipment readily available.
✅ Never use petrol, diesel or any other accelerants.
✅ Only burn appropriate natural materials and never burn hazardous, treated or toxic waste.
✅ Check weather forecasts and do not burn if windy conditions are expected.
✅ Consider the effects of smoke on neighbouring properties, roads, railways, livestock and vulnerable members of the community.
✅ Ensure you have a means of communication available should conditions change.
✅ Thoroughly extinguish the fire when finished and check for any hot spots that could reignite.
If a fire begins to spread, move to a place of safety immediately and call 999. Do not put yourself at risk attempting to tackle a fire.
With emergency services continuing to respond to incidents across the counties, your cooperation helps reduce the risk of avoidable fires and ensures our resources remain available for genuine emergencies.
Thank you for helping to keep our communities safe.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service 🚒
