Fire in the open - Holme
- Huntingdonshire
08/08/2026 10.24AM
At 10.24am on Saturday (8) crews were called to a fire in the open on Holme Fen in Holme.
Firefighters from Dogsthorpe, Stanground, the north roaming fire engine, Whittlesey, Huntingdon, Thorney, St Neots, Ramsey and Sawston, along with the water carrier from Ramsey, a specialist 4x4 vehicle from Thorney, and a crew from Oundle in Northamptonshire attended the incident.
Firefighters arrived to find a fire involving hedges and undergrowth, and it was well alight. They have been working extremely hard in sectors to get the fire under control and stop it from spreading. They have been using equipment such as beaters to control and extinguish the fire.
The fire is now surrounded, good progress has been made, and crews are continuing to work to extinguish it. The fire is deep seated in peat so will take some time to fully extinguish.
Please continue to stay away from the area whilst the incident is ongoing and thank you for your patience whilst crews work to bring this incident to a conclusion.
Update - 8:20pm
The incident has been scaled back. Firefighters are working on checking for hotspots and dampening down the area to prevent further spread. A crew will remain at the scene to ensure the area is safe.
Update 9/8/26 8am
A crew remained at the scene overnight to ensure the area is safe. Firefighters will be on scene today Sunday (9) checking for hotspots. The fire is deep seated in peat so will take some time to fully extinguish.
Update 9/8/26 10:30am
Crews are back at the scene of a fire at Holme Fen Nature Reserve in Holme today. If you are seeing or smelling smoke in and around the area please be advised that this is more than likely coming from Holme Fen but rest assured our firefighters are there and are working hard to extinguish the fire.
They are checking for hotspots, turning them over and dampening down the area to make it safe. The fire is deep seated in peat so will take some time to fully extinguish. If you see fire crews in the area over the coming days, this will be why.
We are asking the public to continue avoiding the area where they can. Crews are working incredibly hard to bring the fire under control and minimise disruption to bring this incident to a conclusion.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Update 9/8/26 6pm
Crews have remained on scene throughout the day in arduous conditions tackling a large fire. They have been using jets to extinguish hotspots and have been working in sectors.
Due to the current weather conditions, you may still be seeing or smelling smoke in and around the area, but please be advised that this is more than likely still coming from Holme Fen.
Please do continue to avoid the area so crews can work to bring this fire under control and to a conclusion. We thank you again for your patience.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Update 9/8/26 7pm
Crews are still responding to a fire at Holme Fen Nature Reserve in Holme. More than 80 firefighters are at the scene, including from neighbouring fire and rescue services, and other specialist vehicles are in attendance.
Crews have remained on scene throughout the day in arduous conditions tackling a large fire there, that started yesterday morning around 10.30am.
They are continuing to work hard to contain the fire and stop it from spreading further, and have been working in sectors.
Due to the current weather conditions, you may still be seeing or smelling smoke in and around the area, but please be advised that this is more than likely still coming from Holme Fen.
Please avoid the area as we deal with this incident.
Update 9/8/26 8:30pm
Firefighters are continuing to work hard to extinguish the fire at Holme Fen Nature Reserve.
Please be aware that there are now several road closures in place.
- The junction of Hod Fen Drove and Holme Lode
- All of Holme Lode
- The junction of Long Drove/B660 and New Long Drove.
Please avoid all routes in the area when possible, and please do not enter the area of the Nature Reserve at any time, for your own safety.
Update 9/8/26 9pm
Thank you to all the farmers and members of the public who have offered water to help us with the ongoing incident at Holme Fen.
As it stands, we have enough water and bowsers for our firefighters to continue tackling this incident, and do not require further water at this time.
Thank you again for your continued help whilst firefighters work to tackle this fire.
Update 9/8/26 10pm
Firefighters are continuing to work in sectors to extinguish the fire at Holme Fen Nature Reserve.
They will remain on scene overnight tackling the fire and ensuring the area is safe.
Please do continue to stay away from the area so crews can carry out their work as safely as possible.
Thank you for your continued patience.
Update 10/08/26 7:30am
Crews remained on scene overnight working incredibly hard to tackle the large fire in sectors.
They will continue to work on extinguishing the fire today Monday (10).
Please do continue to stay away from the area so crews can carry out their work as safely as possible.
