The risk of fire spread is 'at its highest level in Bucks' with the fire service called out to more than a dozen fires this week alone.

July saw a record breaking hot spell with Bucks Fire and Rescue Service declaring a 'major incident' due to the high demand across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

August has seen another hot and dry period with a drought being declared in the Thames Valley area today (August 12).

READ MORE: Moor Common: Field fire breaks out in Lane End

And the call outs have not stopped for the fire service this month.

On Wednesday, August 10, a hedgerow caught fire in Fishermead, Milton Keynes.

The same day, crews dealt with a combine harvester on fire in Aylesbury Road, Rowsham.

Later that evening a tree caught fire in King George V Road, Amersham. Fire crews used buckets of water to put it out.

Bucks Free Press:

Even more recently, firefighters rushed to the scene of a field fire the size of 10 football pitches in Lane End near Marlow.

With scorching temperatures over the weekend, and the Met Office issuing an extreme weather warning until Sunday, Bucks Fire and Rescue service is urging people to be cautious.

Bucks Free Press: Field fire on 8 August at Marlow Bottom (photo credit Graham Anderson)Field fire on 8 August at Marlow Bottom (photo credit Graham Anderson)

Adam Moore, BFRS Duty Officer for this weekend, said: “Summer is a great time to have a wedding or gather for an open-air evening celebration, and we don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment.

“However the tinder dry conditions result in the strong risk that any stray spark could spread much faster and further than you could ever anticipate. If you were planning to celebrate using fire related items – please reconsider! They may look pretty but the effects of an accidental fire will dampen the party spirit.”

With an exceptional fire severity warning in place, the risk of these fires spreading is at its highest level.

Community Safety and Safeguarding Manager, Jo Cook, said: “Field fires have the potential to spread quickly and, because of their remote locations, can be physically demanding on firefighters who use beaters to help put them out.

“While it may seem like only grassland has been destroyed the harsh reality is that it often involves standing crops, the culmination of months of hard work for farmers. As well as the physical loss this also has a financial implication for the landowner and can impact on subsequent crop yields.”