Holme Fen wildfire: Crews face 'boil in the bag' conditions
Firefighters tackling a peatland wildfire near Peterborough describe extreme temperatures reaching up to 60C.
Quick Look
Firefighters battling a large peatland wildfire at Holme Fen Nature Reserve near Peterborough report extreme working conditions with temperatures up to 60C, comparing it to 'boil in the bag' meals.
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Why It Matters
A fire broke out at Holme Fen Nature Reserve on Saturday, marking the second fire at the site in two weeks.
A fire chief has said temperatures faced by crews tackling a peatland wildfire are so high they feel like "boil in the bag" meals.
The blaze at Holme Fen Nature Reserve, near Peterborough, broke out on Saturday, the second fire there in just two weeks.
Area commander Wayne Swales said about 50% of the 660-acre (270-hectare) site had been burnt - and temperatures were up to 60C (140F).
"It's indescribable in the centre: you've got peat on fire, you've got trees falling down around you, so we've not only got to try and deal with the fire, we've got to make sure our people are safe," he added.
Swales said firefighters were facing "some of the most difficult working conditions".
He said firefighters were working in gear designed to protect them from external heat, as well as coping with the scorching temperatures of the blaze itself.
"It is boiling in the bag I would suggest on our crews."
Peat is formed over millions of years from an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter.
Peatland fires can be hard to detect and hard to put out. They can spread undetected as they may not produce obvious flames or much smoke.
Swales added that crews had changed their tactics on Tuesday to try and "reduce the impact resource-wise".
"It will allow us to get the rest [and] the breathing space for the inevitable more shouts and more calls that are going to come with that hot weather through the week," he added.
The fire service has said crews are expected to be at the reserve for the rest of the week.
More than 40 firefighters first went to the site on 27 July to tackle a blaze described as "deep seated in peat", making it likely to burn for longer.
The first fire is being investigated as suspected arson, and Cambridgeshire Police has appealed for information.
Swales said peatlands were hard to tackle.
"Peat fires, by their nature burn into the ground, as you have the vegetation above the ground and that burns as well so we're working on two fires at once."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Crews will remain at the reserve for the rest of the week.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will the police find the suspected arsonist?
- How long will the fire continue to burn?
