Firefighters battled through the night after around 200 tonnes of timber and woodchip erupted into a huge blaze at a manufacturing site in Somerset amid soaring temperatures and an exceptionally busy week for the fire service. Crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) were called to Chipmunk South West in Henlade, near Taunton, at 12.24am on Friday 17 July after reports of a major fire involving large stacks of timber. Four fire engines and a water bowser were sent to the scene from Taunton, Bridgwater, Wellington, Burnham-on-Sea and Somerton as firefighters tackled the intense blaze. Towering piles of wood and woodchip were engulfed in flames, sending thick plumes of smoke high into the sky.
Residents warned to stay indoors
As the fire continued to burn for several hours, nearby residents and businesses were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the heavy smoke drifting across the area. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Fire service under pressure
The blaze comes as firefighters across Devon and Somerset continue to face one of their busiest periods in recent years due to the prolonged hot and dry weather. A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the previous seven days had been their busiest in almost four years. During that period, the service’s Fire Control room handled 1,936 emergency calls—almost one every five minutes around the clock—while firefighters attended 813 incidents, including 226 fires. The spokesperson warned that with high temperatures and dry ground expected to continue, the risk of rapidly spreading fires remains significant. They said even relatively small incidents, such as vehicle fires, unattended barbecues or bonfires, can quickly develop into large-scale wildfires under current conditions. The service also revealed crews have responded to an increasing number of calls assisting the ambulance service by gaining entry to properties as vulnerable people struggle in the heat. Fire officials urged the public to check on elderly relatives, neighbours and friends during the ongoing hot weather.
Wildfire warnings continue
The timber yard blaze comes as fire services across the UK continue to battle a series of significant wildfires fuelled by the prolonged heatwave. The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned that the dry conditions are creating ideal circumstances for fast-moving fires, with Chair Phil Garrigan saying there is currently “no real respite” and little rain forecast. Major incidents have recently been declared in Conwy in North Wales and Glossop in Derbyshire, while firefighters have also tackled large wildfires across Hampshire, Sussex, Devon and Somerset, Durham and the Cairngorms. Emergency services continue to urge people to take extra care outdoors as the hot weather persists, warning that a single spark can quickly escalate into a major incident.
