Fire at Midsummer Meadow, Bedford Road, Northampton

On Sunday 9 August, shortly before 3pm, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to multiple reports of a grass fire at Midsummer Meadow, Bedford Road, Northampton.

Approximately two acres of grass and vegetation were involved in the fire. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to the nearby tree line and extinguished it using hose reel jets, beaters and water backpacks.

Northamptonshire Police assisted by closing Bedford Road, enabling crews to access nearby hydrants and maintain a water supply. The road was reopened shortly after 5pm.

Fire crews revisited the scene throughout the evening, using thermal imaging cameras to identify any remaining hotspots and carry out further damping down where necessary.

An investigation has concluded that the fire was started accidentally when sunlight was refracted through a discarded glass bottle among a large amount of refuse in the area.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the response, as well as motorists for their patience while Bedford Road was temporarily closed.

This incident serves as an important reminder to take litter home and dispose of it responsibly. Discarded waste can have serious consequences, particularly during periods of warm and dry weather.