press release swinley forest fire recovery phase - Royal Berkshire ...

PRESS RELEASE
09/05/2011 No: 11/RBFRS
SWINLEY FOREST FIRE RECOVERY PHASE
The Stop message for the forest fire at Swinley Forest, Crowthorne, was issued at 17:43 on Sunday 8
May. This is the largest incident, in terms of resources and length of operations, ever dealt with by Royal
Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
A stop message is sent when an incident is being scaled down, ie no additional resources are required
and existing resources on scene have been reduced. The fire is now largely extinguished apart from
some remaining underground hotspots.
Swinley Forest is a mixed (coniferous and broadleaf) forest, the majority is owned and managed by the
Forestry Commission with areas owned by Crown Estates. The area affected by the fire covered 300
hectares, of which 55% was damaged by fire and forestry clearing operations.
Resources used:
• Twelve fire and rescue services (Royal Berkshire, London, Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire,
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire
and wildfire experts from Northumberland)
• 18 Jets
• 21 hose reels
• Two High Volume Pump (HVP) 6.5 kilometre water relays (ie 13 kilometres) from open water
supplying three water supply lines
• One water relay of three pumps from 21” towns main, four hydrants, four fire and rescue service
Water Bowsers and three Forestry Commission Water Bowsers
• four portable dams
• eight Light Portable Pumps
• 10 HVPs
• 10 various off road pumps
• one Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Module
• One military fuel tanker
• Forestry Commission resources:
• One large mulcher
• one tractor mounted mulcher
• three 360 degree slew excavators
• two tractor mounted excavators
• four forestry teams involved in felling operations
contd/...
Issued by Nicole Targett, corporate communications manager
ph: 0118 932 2283 email: targettn@rbfrs.co.uk
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 103 Dee Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG30 4FS

PRESS RELEASE
This remains a protracted incident. Although it has been possible to reduce the level and intensity of the
operational response, there is a continuing risk that remaining hotspots may flare up, particularly as
temperatures rise and the strong winds continue. It is hoped that RBFRS will be able to hand the forest
back to land management by tomorrow (Tuesday). Once fire and rescue service operations have
finished there will be an ongoing presence for at least the following two days whilst recovery of the HVP
assets are completed.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Olaf Baars said: “This has been an exceptionally difficult and challenging
operation. I would like to pay tribute to the contribution of our fellow fire and rescue services, who have
been unstinting with their support. I would also like to thank the volunteers of the Women’s Royal
Voluntary Service (WRVS) who staffed the catering unit when Hampshire’s catering unit was not on site
and produced literally thousands of sandwiches and hot drinks, on a round the clock basis, which helped
to maintain morale.
“Thames Valley Police, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, the Forestry Commission and Crown Estates
have shown outstanding support and have helped us in managing the impact of this incident. I would
also like to thank members of the public in the area for their patience and understanding. Most of them
took notice of our requests to stay away from the area and many local people provided sweets, cakes
and biscuits for the crews, which was much appreciated.
“This is one of the largest incidents that the fire and rescue service has dealt with since World War II and
I am proud of the way in which we have all responded.”
ENDS.
Issued by Nicole Targett, corporate communications manager
ph: 0118 932 2283 email: targettn@rbfrs.co.uk
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 103 Dee Road, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG30 4FS