The fire service says its newly acquired vehicles and wildfire kits may have prevented a wildfire in Accrington from growing out of control.

The fire service was called to Peel Park on Wednesday, June 14. Six fire engines were called and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire service says two newly acquired Hagglund vehicles and wildfire kits may have helped to keep the fire under control.

Firefighters wearing the newly acquired wildfire kits and utilising the Hagglund vehicles successfully and efficiently extinguished a fire, preventing it from reaching a nearby plantation of trees.

The lightweight wildfire kits, distributed to firefighters earlier this month, facilitate ease of movement, particularly when responding to wildfire incidents in challenging terrain and demanding weather conditions.

The Hagglund vehicles, equipped with rubber tracks for all-terrain capabilities, enable firefighters to swiftly reach fires and other emergencies in locations that are typically difficult to access.

In conjunction with the dedicated burn team, established after the Winter Hill wildfire in 2018, these investments enable firefighters to efficiently and safely extinguish wildfires, utilising fewer resources and minimising the impact on local communities.

Chief fire officer Justin Johnston expressed his satisfaction with the positive impact of the investments made by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and The Combined Fire Authority.

He said: "The incident at Peel Park in Accrington on Wednesday could have been significantly larger if it weren't for the skills of our firefighters equipped with this new kit.

“Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is the first fire and rescue service in the UK to equip all frontline responders with wildfire kits.

"Combined with the recently introduced wildfire burn team, the service is now better equipped to respond more efficiently to wildfires whilst ultimately reducing the devastating impact that they can have on the communities and environment in Lancashire.

“These investments also underscore our commitment to better comprehend and mitigate climate change emergencies in Lancashire, while ensuring the safety of our firefighters in challenging conditions.”