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New adaptor to help firefighters combat wildfires

George KingBBC News, Suffolk, Hill Farm, Framsden
News imagePagepix Ltd From left to right - Suffolk's chief fire officer Jon Lacey, Glenn Buckingham, farmer and chair of the National Farmers' Union's Suffolk Branch, and Suffolk firefighter Alex Smith. Between them they are holding a hose and standing in front of a tractor. Lacey is wearing a white shirt and black trousers, Buckingham is in a chequered shirt and trousers and Smith is wearing firefighter overalls with a helmet. Pagepix Ltd
Fire crews can use a new universal coupling device to connect to the water tanks on farms

Farmers and firefighters hope a new appliance will help them combat rural fires after the number of wildfires in their county more than doubled.

Specialist adaptors that enable firefighters to connect to water bowsers and other farm-based water sources have been distributed across Suffolk.

The trial initiative has been developed by the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), the county's branch of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), and local farmers.

New data obtained by the BBC revealed there were 165 wildfires in the county in the first six months of this year, compared with 76 in the first six months of 2024.

News imageGeorge King/BBC A head and shoulders image of Glenn Buckingham looking directly into the camera. He is wearing a shirt under a piece of knitwear. George King/BBC
Glenn Buckingham says he was happy to help firefighters with water from his farm

Glenn Buckingham, a farmer from Framsden who is the chair of the NFU in Suffolk, has two tanks on his farm that can each contain up to 1,000 gallons (4,546 litres) of water – enough to fill up five fire engines, which can empty in three minutes.

When dealing with a fire, crews could use a new universal coupling device to connect to the tanks.

"The loss of a crop or machinery, or heaven forbid someone suffers burns in a fire, would be dramatic, and we want to help stop that," added Mr Buckingham.

News imagePagepix Ltd A close-up of two hands holding to specialist adaptors which can connect hoses to water supplies. The person holding them is wearing a firefighter's uniform but you cannot see their face. Pagepix Ltd
The specialist adaptors enable firefighters to connect large on-farm water supplies to their fire engines

"We don't mind who we help and we are happy for firefighters to come along whenever to take [water] for whatever type of fire it might be," he added.

"It's about looking out for each other and helping each other and if we have got water available then surely it is right to be helping," he said.

News imageGeorge King/BBC Glenn Buckingham looking directly into the camera. He is wearing a shirt under a piece of knitwear. He is holding a universal coupling and standing in front of two large water tanks.George King/BBC
Mr Buckingham's farm has two large water tanks that can each contain up to 1,000 gallons (4,546 litres) of water

The idea for the collaboration was first raised in November 2022 after the SFRS recorded its most severe wildfire season in more than a decade, with crews tackling 370 wildfires in July and August.

"I was therefore very encouraged by the idea that a simple adapter could help our firefighters work more efficiently when tackling fires in the open," said Jon Lacey, SFRS's chief fire officer.

"Even though the current weather has taken a cooler turn and the immediate risk of large-scale wildfires is reduced, harvesting is under way.

"That's why it's important to remain vigilant."

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