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Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has added two new 4×4 Can-Am Traxter vehicles to its fleet as part of preparations for the 2025 wildfire season.
The two-seater off-road vehicles are purpose-built for tackling wildfires and grass fires. Each can carry up to 240 litres of water and comes equipped with a rescue winch (2,041kg capacity), a towing capability of 1,134kg and a top speed of 43mph. The vehicles are transported to incidents using a trailer and are fitted with high-powered blowers and brush cutters to support wildfire response.
KFRS also deploys dedicated wildfire kits, including a lightweight, manoeuvrable hose designed to cover large areas more efficiently. The kit was recently used to tackle a blaze in Ashford when a bonfire spread rapidly across a field, burning around two acres – the equivalent of two football pitches. Six fire engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to the scene.
The homeowner said: “There was no wind, but it spread really quickly. Our hose didn’t reach, and buckets weren’t fast enough – so we called 999. Even though the ground was wet, the dry grass on top caught fire fast.”
That incident came ahead of a series of wildfires reported in March, marking the start of the UK’s typical wildfire season, which runs through to September. These included fires in Dartford Heath, Barnfield in Chatham, and Swanscombe – all believed to have been started deliberately.
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