2026 Fire Policy
With increased concerns about wildfires in the area, we are taking extra precautions to keep everyone at FolkEast safe. This guidance has been prepared with our own on site fire service, Warrior, and with recommendations from the County Fire Officer and we ask all festival goers, campers, traders, artists, volunteers and crew to take these precautions seriously.
The Sotterley Estate is a beautiful and special place, but in these dry conditions it is particularly vulnerable to fire. Our Warrior Fire Service team have had first-hand experience of the horrendous wildfires at Dunwich and over in Cambridgeshire. With your support in taking responsibility to keep the site safe, we will make sure that it doesn’t happen at Sotterley.
The Warrior team will be making regular patrols of the site and they will also be bringing an extra 6000 litre water bowser so they can react quickly and efficiently should anything happen.
Thank you for supporting us so that we can enjoy FolkEast safely while protecting this beautiful site and each other.
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No barbecues, charcoal or gas, disposable or not, are permitted anywhere on the festival site.
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Camping stoves may be used, but they must be kept 60cm off the ground and on a stable, non-flammable surface.
Never use a lit camping stove inside your tent. Stoves must only be used outdoors, in a safe and well-ventilated area.
If you use a camping stove, please keep a container of water nearby at all times so that any accidental spark can be dealt with immediately.
Never leave a lit stove unattended, and make sure it is fully extinguished when you have finished cooking.
Please ensure you keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher within reach.
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Cigarettes are permitted, however please visit the Info tent on arrival where Butt Boxes are available for safe disposal.
NEVER throw cigarette ends onto the ground
Cigarettes must be fully extinguished before being disposed of. There will be extra sand buckets around the site to extinguish cigarette ends safely.
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FolkEast does not permit open fires on the campsite at any time.
There is, on any other year, a controlled open fire bowl on site for evening warmth for those late night sing alongs. This year we will not be lighting the pit unless the county fire officer gives permission to do so.
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If you see smoke, a fire, an unattended flame or anything else that could create a fire risk, please alert a FolkEast Steward / member of the FolkEast team or Warrior (situated at the entrance to the campsite) immediately.
Thank you for supporting us so that we can enjoy FolkEast safely while protecting this beautiful site and each other.
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There will be a hot water urn at the Campsite Box Office to fill up thermos flasks and for making a cup of tea in the morning.