‘Some animals may have been killed’ in Peterborough nature reserve fire

More than 40 firefighters attended to extinguish the blaze

The owners of a nature reserve are concerned that animals have been killed in a fire. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue was called to a fire in the Hampton Nature Reserve, Peterborough, at around 3.48pm on Tuesday (August 25).

As a result, Natures Way in Hampton was partially closed off while more than 40 firefighters dealt with the blaze. Firefighters remained at the scene until around 10pm. The cause of the fire was accidental.

Froglife, which oversees the nature reserve, believes some of the animals that inhabit the green space would have died in the fire.

Jenny Tse-Leon, head of conservation and impact for Froglife said: “We’re very concerned about the fire at Hampton Nature Reserve. Sadly, this isn’t the first fire we’ve experienced on the reserve, but the fire crews have always responded incredibly quickly, and we’re very grateful for their efforts in bringing these incidents under control and limiting the damage.

“The area affected is a particularly important habitat for reptiles. We’re concerned that some animals may have been killed in the fire, while those that managed to escape have lost the habitat they rely on for shelter, feeding and breeding.

“The recent rainfall is very welcome and has helped reduce the immediate fire risk, but unfortunately the damaged habitat will take time to recover. In the meantime, the reptiles that survived have lost an important part of their home and may have very limited suitable habitat to move into.”

The nature reserve is privately owned and the public cannot access it. Froglife is unsure how the fire started, but it is encouraging people to be careful when visiting nature reserves amid the dry weather the country has experienced.

Jenny added: “We’d urge everyone visiting nature reserves and other green spaces to be especially careful and avoid anything that could start a fire. That includes disposing of cigarettes safely, not using barbecues and taking glass bottles and other litter home.

“A moment’s carelessness can have a devastating impact on wildlife and the places they depend on.”