Volunteers support fire crews at Holme Fen, Dunwich and New Forest

"We are just trying to keep them fed, hydrated, and just give them a moment of peace or downtime when they're feeling their worst."

That is the mission of dozens of volunteers who are providing firefighters with respite while they tackle some of the biggest wildfires across the country, including in the New Forest, Dunwich Heath and Holme Fen.

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT), external, a Cambridgeshire-based charity, has been working alongside emergency services providing refreshments and welfare support to crews working in "horrific conditions".

Ben Marsh, the charity's Cambridge volunteer lead, said: "It's definitely a very busy period for us... in this last week, we've had at least three days where there's been seven reactive events happening up and down the country.

"We really enjoy putting that compassion in action and we're there to support anyone in any way we can... it's what we love to do."

Ben Marsh said the volunteers had been working hard even if it was just keeping firefighters going with chocolate and energy drinks

More than 60 volunteers from Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire have been helping firefighters tackle the Holme Fen peatland wildfire near Peterborough since it broke out on 8 August. Crews were expecting to remain there into next week.

Marsh said the RRT team arrived within hours of the fire starting and served about 200 hot burger meals to firefighters that evening, adding that the support has continued throughout.

"We've had various teams switching in and out throughout the week just really trying to support the crews in any way we can, taking even just chocolate and electrolyte drinks down to them just to keep them going," he said.

The charity, which has more than 8,000 volunteers across the UK, has also been supporting the crews battling the wildfire in the New Forest in Hampshire.

It previously assisted emergency services during the major heathland fire that burned for nearly two weeks at Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast.

Cambridgeshire Fire Service said the Holme Fen fire had been a "challenging incident"

The blaze at the Holme Fen reserve has been described as one of the county's "most challenging incidents" in nearly 30 years and has burned through swathes of the 660-acre (270-hectare) site.

Brigades from across the east of England, including Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and from as far afield as Merseyside, have joined forces at Holme Fen.

Marsh said: "The heat conditions which the firefighters are working in is nothing short of horrific.

"They're working a 12-hour shift in heavy clothing, and we're just trying to look after them.

"They are absolutely drained. In some cases, they hadn't eaten for 24 hours. They've been on their feet trying to do a very active physical job in 36-degree temperatures.

"We're just there to be at their elbow when they need it and provide what they need."

Marsh said volunteers had established a support base at a site that ensured crews could access food and refreshments as quickly as possible.

"We're right there, boots on the ground. We've set up a station just outside the fire cordon where we're actually doing a lot of cooking and taking the meals into this cordon... running them out to the actual firemen on the fire front," he said.

He said firefighters had "really appreciated" the support.

"We get comments like that 'you're a lifesaver, etc'. It's just that moment of respite and just knowing that they can step back for a minute, they'll be cared for — even just a chance for a wipe or two to wash their faces and try and clean up a little bit."

Marsh said local residents had also played an important role in keeping firefighters' spirits up.

"The local community has been amazing... there are certainly some unsung heroes there as well," he said.

"They've been bringing a lot of gifts and even just a card. [We] took a card down to the commander just from the local villages saying 'thank you' for what they're doing. It just brought a smile to their faces.

"So this little 10 seconds of enjoyment for them, which they don't get much of when they're in this job, it was really impactful."

Cambridgeshire's chief fire officer Matthew Warren said: "We are extremely grateful to everyone that is pitching in.

"We've seen fire engines here from the length and breadth of the country... and our partners have been pivotal in our response.

"We have also been inundated with refreshment and welfare support from residents and business from across the county. My sincere thanks goes out to everyone involved."

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