Cannock residents urged to avoid wildfire-hit heathland

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-12 16:34 3 min read

A woman in a pink blazer stands before a fire truck at a wildfire.

Cannock residents and visitors are being urged to stay away from the wildfire site at Sherbrook Valley as temperatures rise again and the risk of further fires remains exceptionally high across Staffordshire.

Staffordshire County Council said its countryside officers are continuing to damp down hotspots on heathland just off Chase Road in Cannock. Fire crews have left the scene, but rangers remain at the site to reduce the risk of the ground reigniting.

People are also being asked to respect the Chase Road closures and avoid lighting barbecues, campfires or cigarettes in country parks. Taking litter home is another key part of the warning, with discarded items capable of adding to fire risk in dry conditions.

Heathland damaged at Sherbrook Valley

The second wildfire at Sherbrook Valley happened last Wednesday and destroyed an area of heathland equivalent to around 21 football pitches. The council said wildlife was killed and that the habitat will take many years to recover.

The cause of the latest fire is not yet known. The warning follows an earlier Cannock Chase blaze, reported at the end of July, which destroyed around 15 hectares of heathland and was linked to a disposable barbecue.

Cannock Chase is facing sustained pressure during the hot, dry spell. Temperatures are expected to reach 34C this week, according to the council, keeping the wildfire risk high in the county’s countryside areas.

Fire service calls rise during dry conditions

Firefighters were also called to Chasewater Country Park over the weekend. Staffordshire’s fire service has reported tackling twice as many outdoor fires in the past month as during the same period last year.

Cannock residents urged to avoid wildfire-hit heathland

Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said emergency services had been dealing with a large number of wildfires because of recent hot and dry weather.

She said some incidents had affected country parks and appealed for extra care, asking people not to light open flames in the countryside and to take litter home.

Restrictions remain in place near Chase Road

The immediate instruction for people heading to Cannock Chase is to avoid the Sherbrook Valley fire site and observe the closures on Chase Road while rangers continue their work.

The council has thanked Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, its countryside team, the National Trust, SAC Partnership, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the National Farmers Union for supporting efforts to contain the blaze and damp down affected ground.

For visitors planning countryside walks or recreation during the heat, the practical message is simple: keep clear of the affected heathland, leave no litter behind and do not use any open flame. Similar wildfire prevention warnings for moorland visitors have been issued elsewhere as dry conditions increase the danger of outdoor fires.

Source: Staffordshire County Council Newsroom

Context & actions About this article

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This report is based on Staffordshire County Council's 12 August 2026 wildfire warning and its stated site restrictions.

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