Fire crews across Cambridgeshire — including here in St Neots — have seen a major surge in incidents, with the past two months marking a five-year high for the number of fires attended.
In March alone, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with over 160 fires, a jump from 111 the same month last year. April saw an even bigger increase, with more than 200 call-outs across the county, including residential areas around St Neots. That’s well above the five-year average and part of a broader 13% rise in incidents countywide over the past 12 months.
Group Commander James Ball, who leads Community Fire Safety, said:
“We often expect a seasonal rise, but this spike is particularly sharp. It’s worrying, especially as we head into the summer months.”
Many of the recent fires have been inside homes — particularly in kitchens. The most common causes include unattended cooking, clutter left on or near hobs, and incidents involving appliances like air fryers being accidentally heated by hob switches. In one unusual case, a fire started when sunlight bounced off a vanity mirror.
St Neots residents are encouraged to complete the free online Home Fire Safety Check offered by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue. It takes just a few minutes and gives a personalised fire safety plan to help keep your home and family safe.
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