Glastonbury Lammas fire sparks drought row

By Laura Linham 31st Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

A ceremonial fire lit during the Glastonbury Goddess Conference has sparked backlash from residents during the current drought.

Images of the Lammas fire circulated on social media this week, with locals questioning why a large open flame was used while Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to avoid fires, campfires and disposable barbecues in the countryside.

The Goddess Conference says the ceremony was insured, risk-assessed and supervised, and took place on private land with the landowner's permission.

But Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it had only given organisers safety advice before the event. It said it did not approve the fire or give permission for it to go ahead.

The service has spent the week warning that drought conditions have left vegetation extremely dry, making fires easier to spread and harder to control. It has urged people to avoid lighting fires, campfires or disposable barbecues in the countryside to reduce the risk of wildfires.

A spokesperson for the service said: "Ahead of the event, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service provided the organisers with practical fire safety advice. It is the responsibility of event organisers to carry out their own fire risk assessment and ensure appropriate control measures are in place.

"It is not the role of the fire and rescue service to approve or give permission for events to proceed. Our Business Safety team directed organisers to guidance on undertaking fire risk assessments and provided advice on managing fire safety at events."

The fire service said any planned fire-related activity should be covered by a thorough risk assessment to ensure it does not put participants, the public or the surrounding environment at risk.

It added: "While we encourage organisers to follow our guidance and take appropriate precautions, responsibility for managing fire risks at an event ultimately rests with the event organisers."

Directors of the Goddess Conference said images and reports circulating online may have caused concern because they had been shared without the full context.

They said: "The ceremony was held on private land, with the full knowledge and permission of the landowner. It did not take place on Glastonbury Tor or on National Trust land.

"The event was planned in accordance with a comprehensive risk assessment and was covered by specialist UK premium bonfire event insurance. All requirements of the insurer were complied with as part of the planning and delivery of the ceremony."

Organisers said four trained fire marshals were positioned around the fire, with additional fire stewards monitoring both the fire and the surrounding area. They said multiple large water butts and more than 100 litres of additional water were also available on site.

The conference said the fire was built in a purpose-dug pit with a raised earth surround, remained supervised at all times and was never left unattended. It said the fire was thoroughly extinguished with water and raked cold at the end of the ceremony.

The organisers said the site had rain earlier that afternoon and that the grass around the fire pit was not scorched after the event. They said this showed the fire had remained safely contained within the prepared area.

The conference also said there had been confusion online between its ceremony and a separate fire gathering on Glastonbury Tor the previous week. It said it had no involvement in that event.

Glastonbury Town Council has also issued a wider warning after reports and images of fires being lit in areas of the town. It said no fires had been lit on land it owns or manages, and that no permission had been given for any such activity.

The council said it does not condone or support fires on its land or elsewhere during the current period of exceptionally dry weather and drought.

It said: "The current conditions present an increased risk of wildfire. As highlighted by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, fires in the open can spread rapidly and unpredictably, threatening wildlife, livestock, habitats, homes, businesses and human life."

The council said a single spark could destroy habitats, kill wildlife, damage property, put people at risk and divert emergency services from other incidents.

Residents and visitors are being urged not to light campfires, disposable barbecues or other open fires on grassland or in the countryside. People are also being asked to take litter home, dispose of cigarettes safely and call 999 immediately if they discover a fire and it is safe to do so.