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A significant fire near Locking Farm Industrial Estate, Weston-super-Mare has highlighted the increasing demands placed Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) as hot, dry conditions increase the risk of grass fires and other weather-related emergencies.
More than 70 firefighters and 14 fire engines attended the incident, which was reported at around 3am on Tuesday 18th August. The fire began as a grass fire before spreading to adjacent premises, damaging buildings, vehicles and grassland.
The fire was safely extinguished at approximately 2pm, with crews remaining at the scene to check for hotspots and ensure the area was safe. Fire investigation has established that the fire was started deliberately.
Chief Fire Officer Matt Cook, who oversaw Avon Fire & Rescue Services operational response to the incident, said: “Firefighters worked throughout the night and into the afternoon to bring the fire safely under control.
“I want to thank our crews for their hard work and professionalism throughout what was a challenging and sustained incident. I’d also like to thank the affected businesses and resident for their cooperation and support while our crews worked to make the area safe.
“The fire is believed to have been started deliberately and comes during a period of exceptionally hot and dry weather, when grass and vegetation can be particularly dry and a fire can spread very quickly.
“I would urge everyone to take the current conditions seriously. Please do not light any open fires, use disposable barbeques or undertake any activity that could ignite nearby grass or vegetation.
“If you see a fire, call 999 immediately. The sooner we know about it, the greater the chance we have of stopping it from spreading and becoming a much more significant incident.”
Cllr Tom Renhard, who was elected Chair of Avon Fire Authority last month, said the incident also demonstrated the wider pressures facing fire and rescue services as communities experience increasingly challenging weather conditions.
He said: “This incident is a shocking reminder of how quickly a grass fire can spread, particularly during hot and dry conditions, and how rapidly a relatively small fire can develop into a significant emergency requiring a major response.
“But this is about more than one incident. As of 16 August, 1,132 wildfires had been recorded across England and Wales in 2026, already exceeding the 1,017 recorded during the whole of 2025. Fire and rescue services are facing an increasingly complex and demanding risk landscape, with extreme weather and other emergencies placing additional pressure on resources.
“Firefighters are doing an exceptional job, but resilience cannot be built on goodwill alone. When an incident like this requires more than 70 firefighters and 14 fire engines, we need to ensure our services have the resources to respond effectively while remaining ready for whatever comes next.
“We need sustainable investment in our firefighters, specialist capabilities, equipment and infrastructure. The risks are changing, and the funding and resources available to fire and rescue services need to change with them. We cannot wait for the next major incident before recognising the scale of the challenge.”
For more safety advice please visit our website Preventing wildfires – Avon Fire and Rescue Service