Fire officers are warning people to take care in the countryside as more than 50 fires have been reported so far this month.

Hedgerows, trees, fields of straw, farm machinery, a hay barn, gorse and grassland have gone up in flames in numerous incidents across the county.

Some fires have been caused deliberately while the “tinder dry” countryside caused by the hot, dry summer has led to fires breaking out in Ellesmere, Oswestry, Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer and Telford. 

Oswestry firefighter John Davies has retired after a 33 year career with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

John (61), who is Watch Manager in charge at Oswestry Fire Station, hung up his helmet at his final Wednesday night drill night this week. (July 19th)

His long service as an on call firefighter covering the Oswestry region means he has attended around 1,700 weekly drill nights where firefighters practice their skills ready to deal with any emergency which comes their way.

A Shropshire fire station has found a novel way to recycle old fire helmets by turning them into hanging baskets.

A bit of compost and a few blooms with holes drilled into the bottom of the bright yellow helmets has created an eye catching floral display to brighten up the outside of Market Drayton fire station.

The idea came from Watch Manager Mark Smith, who has a family tradition as an “on call” firefighter to look after the rural fire station. Both his father and uncle were also watch managers at the station and his brother is a firefighter too.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the annual Cultural Diversity Day in Shrewsbury on Saturday. (July 22nd)

Live music, dance displays, workshops and stalls will entertain shoppers and visitors in The Square from midday to 4pm as part of the celebrations.

Staff from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will join other county organisations at the event and highlight the work they do in equality and diversity, anti-discrimination, human rights and hate crime.

Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority have jointly commissioned a piece of work to carry out an analysis of the PCC for West Mercia’s business case to take over the Fire and Rescue Service.

Telford firefighters demonstrated their skills at a “hugely successful” open day at Telford Central Fire Station.

Families galore arrived early to watch eye catching demonstrations including a chip pan bursting into flames, a rope rescue from a high tower and a display showing how firefighters rescue animals.

Telford mayor, Councillor Stephen Reynolds, volunteered to be the front seat driver cut out of a car by firefighters.

MP Lucy Allen joined the crowds at the Stafford Park station along with Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority vice chair Eric Carter.

There looks like being no shortage of action and drama planned for this Saturday’s (July 8) open day at Telford Central Fire Station.

Firefighters are teaming up with police and ambulance crews to put on series of dramatic demonstrations including rescuing “casualties” from a road traffic collision, an “animal” rescue and the rescue of a “casualty” from a high tower.

Women interested in a career as firefighters’ attended a successful taster session at Oswestry Fire Station aimed at encouraging more to join Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

During the session they toured the fire station, checked out the equipment aboard fire appliances, tried on fire kit and experienced wearing breathing apparatus under instruction from firefighters.

A “cool-headed” firefighter who saved a young man’s life as he prepared to jump from a Shrewsbury bridge has received the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation for his action in averting a potential tragedy.

Steve Westley “displayed great calmness” last July when he talked to the distressed man for ten minutes before finally persuading him not to jump 30ft into the Severn below.

The firefighter from Red Watch was among a number of awards recipients at last night’s Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service awards ceremony (June 8) held at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

More women are wanted to train as on call firefighters by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service which is holding another “taster day” just for women on June 17.

Women who live within five minutes of one of Shropshire’s 23 fire stations are invited to attend the session at Oswestry Fire Station from 9.30am to 12.30 to see what life is like as a firefighter.

There are currently vacancies for on call firefighters at stations in Baschurch, Church Stretton, Clun, Bishops Castle, Oswestry and Minsterley but recruits are constantly needed at all of the county fire stations.