FIREFIGHTERS from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) have launched a campaign to combat potentially deadly wildfires this summer and are encouraging people to become ‘Wildfire Warriors.’

There are three simple criteria for becoming a ‘Wildfire Warrior’: take rubbish home; have a picnic instead of a BBQ and respect the landscape and wildlife.

Visiting Aylesbeare Common, the location of a previous wildfire, DSFRS showcased its specialist vehicles and demonstrated the equipment it uses to tackle fast-spreading wildfires in Devon and Somerset.

The common was the site of a huge wildfire back in 2011, which destroyed around eight-and-half acres of scrub and woodland.

Simon Lott, a Watch Manager from Middlemoor Fire Station in Exeter, was on hand to talk about the impact of wildfires, which he said could be caused by something as simple as throwing a lit cigarette on the ground, or by the sun reflecting off a discarded glass bottle.

He explained: ‘It’s crucial that people are extra vigilant as we move into the dry summer season, when we see a huge increase in wildfires in Devon and Somerset.

‘Just one unguarded flame can lead to fires spreading across miles of land.

‘We want to encourage people exploring our beautiful regions this summer to be safe and prevent wildfires, by avoiding open fires and taking picnics, disposing of cigarettes and litter properly, and reporting any signs of fire to us.’

During 2023, DSFRS responded to 970 outdoor fires, many of which rapidly escalated due to dry weather and ground conditions.