Campfire remains found at site of heathland fire

10 hours ago

Lucy ThorneSouth of England

News image — The fire is fully out at Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Black scorched heathland on a cliff looking out over the Solent — The fire is fully out at Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight

Campfire remains have been discovered at the site of a large heathland fire that burned for five days on the Isle of Wight.

The blaze in Headon Warren, in the West Wight, has been fully extinguished, but people are still being urged to avoid the area.

About nine hectares (22.2 acres) of land, the equivalent of 12.6 football pitches, was burnt during the blaze, which the National Trust said damaged "a significant area of precious heathland".

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said while the cause was currently unknown, firefighters found the remains of a campfire while tackling the incident.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service A screengrab from a Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service video showing the remains of a campfire at the scene of the fire on the Isle of Wight. Half burnt logs can be seen lying on the ground. — The remains of a campfire and logs can be seen in the fire service video

Posting a video online of the discovery, it described it as a "reminder of how quickly a small fire can spread".

"With warm, dry weather, campfires and barbecues can easily get out of control and put the countryside at risk," it added.

"They can also require a large emergency response, taking firefighters away from other incidents where they may be needed."

At the height of the fire a helicopter was brought in to drop sea water on inaccessible areas and fire engines were ferried over from the mainland.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Burnt remains of gorse overlooking the sea — Nine hectares (22.2 acres) of gorse heathland were burnt

Fire crews will remain at the scene on Monday and Tuesday, to help reduce the risk of re-ignition, checking for any hotspots, and carrying out inspections to ensure the area remains safe.

They will also be working alongside farmers to recover equipment from the affected area.

The fire service said farmers used tractors to create fire breaks and helped crews contain the blaze.

Island Echo Aerial footage of heathland on fire on the Isle of Wight. — The blaze could be seen for miles around, including on the mainland

The fire broke out at about 09:00 BST Thursday.

Larry Mackrell, HIWFRS wildfire tactical advisor, previously explained the "challenging terrain, remote location and proximity to the cliff edge" made the fire even more difficult to tackle.

Fire service footage showed a helicopter dropping sea water on the fire at its height

The National Trust said the damage would affect the habitats for nest birds, invertebrates and other wildlife.

"Recovery will take time, and we'll be working to better understand the impact and support the restoration of this special landscape," it said.

The fire service and National Trust thanked all those who supported the firefighting response.

They added the risk of wildfires remained high, as the warm and dry weather was expected to continue, and they urged people to take extra care outdoors, particularly by not lighting fires or barbecues, discarding cigarettes or leaving litter behind.