Unattended barbecue sparks woodland fire near Axminster
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Firefighters were called to woodland at Trinity Hill, near Axminster, on Sunday, 24th August, after an unattended barbecue sparked a blaze.
The alarm was raised shortly after 8.30am when a concerned member of the public reported smoke coming from smouldering embers close to dry wood.
Crews from Axminster Fire Station quickly located the fire after a short walk from the car park. They began tackling the flames with a Scotty pack, before requesting extra support due to the fire’s location and crew welfare needs.
A team from Charmouth Fire Station joined them, using a 6x45mm lay-flat hose, hose reel jet and drag forks to extinguish the blaze. Crews then thoroughly damped down the area before returning to station.
A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said:
“We received a call from a concerned member of the public reporting an unattended barbecue that was smouldering and creating heavy smoke close to dry, dead wood.
“Axminster crew were quickly mobilised and, after a short walk from the car park, located the fire. Crews began extinguishing it using a scotty pack.
“Charmouth crew attended and supported Axminster in tackling the fire with a 6x45mm lay flat hose connected into a hose reel jet. Crews worked thoroughly to turn over and damp down the area before safely returning to station.”
The service has once again urged the public to take extra care during the dry summer months.
“Please remember: never leave barbecues unattended, ensure they are fully extinguished before leaving, and avoid using them in areas with dry grass or woodland,” the spokesperson added. “Knowing the exact location of an incident also helps us respond faster - apps like What3Words can pinpoint your location and ensure we reach you quickly before incidents escalate.”
The incident follows a spate of fires across the region, including a field fire near Bridport and a major grassland blaze in Poole that required 75 firefighters.
( Photos: Pixabay Library 📸 )