Firefighters are working in increasingly challenging conditions as wildfires continue to flare up on a daily basis, with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service recording 176 wildfires in 2026.
Chief fire officer Kathryn Billing said there were six incidents happening at the same time on Wednesday, with the largest at the airport in Lands End. She said gorse and wildfires were "very testing" and resource intensive for the service and its crews having to contend with the hot and dry weather conditions.
Billing said there has been an increase of up to 12% in wildfire incidents compared to previous years and will begin work with landowners to limit future outbreaks.
"We are experiencing an increase in dry weather which obviously does impact the number of gorse and wildfires that we have and we're definitely seeing that increase," she said while visiting Tolvaddon Fire Station.
"We are waiting until the end of the summer for the
Cornwall Crews Tackle 176 Wildfires and Counting