The Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service attended four separate fires over the weekend of 18 and 19 April 2026, as bonfires, firepits, and barbecues across the county became uncontrollable. These incidents caused damage to fences, sheds, grass, and hedges in Northampton, Lower Harlestone, and Little Harrowden.
One of the incidents took place in Little Harrowden shortly before 6:30pm on Saturday, 18 April. Fire crews from Wellingborough responded to a barbecue that had been placed too close to a hedge, which then caught fire. Firefighters used two hose-reel jets to extinguish the flames and prevent further damage to the surrounding property.
With warmer weather arriving and the ground and foliage becoming drier, the service is encouraging residents to be cautious when hosting outdoor fires. Officials recommend keeping barbecues and bonfires well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees, and shrubs. They also advise that these fires should never be left unattended and that residents keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby to handle emergencies.
These accidental fires follow a month of increased fire-related activity in the area. The service has attended 28 deliberate fires since the beginning of April 2026. Efforts to manage fire risks are supported by the Arson Task Force, a partnership between the fire service and Northamptonshire Police, which has been actively working to prevent deliberate fire-setting across the county.
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