FIREFIGHTERS with Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service (WFRS) have expressed gratitude to staff and local communities for their support over the summer.
The past two months have seen soaring temperatures and the driest July recorded since 1885, contributing to a dramatic increase in open fires, forest fires and water rescue incidents.
Firefighters, fire control operatives and supporting staff have worked tirelessly to respond to these incidents, as well as raising awareness of measures to prevent them from occurring in the first place where possible.
WFRS says local communities have been highly supportive of this effort – in one instance a fire that was quickly spreading over fields saw many local farmers coming forward to plough breaks into the field to prevent the spread of fire and protect wildlife in the hedges.
Local groups, as well as individuals, have also been actively sharing and following fire safety messages, while on-call firefighters have shown complete dedication and commitment to dealing with the increase in incidents, usually alongside another main form of employment, with employers also supporting the cause.
