Crews respond to multiple grass, crop and woodland fires as temperatures rise

Firefighters joined forces with New Forest rangers to tackle a fire involving heather, gorse and trees.

Hythe and Beaulieu were called to an area of woodland off Northgate Lane, Beaulieu, just after 2pm.

The fire started after a campfire or barbecue was lit.

Crews attended a number of fires involving grass, woodland and crops throughout the day.

Other calls included:

• Three fire engines and one Land Rover were mobilised to a standing crop fire at farmland in Hawkley, Liss.
• An unattended bonfire in a garden in Buffins Corner, Odiham, was put out by firefighters using buckets of water.
• Approximately three acres of grass, fields and woodland were involved in a fire off Chalky Lane, Dogmersfield, near Hook. Crews from Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Basingstoke, Rushmoor, Bordon and Andover attended.
• One fire engine and a Land Rover were sent to Durley Street, Durley, to put out a fire involving woodland, undergrowth and peat.
• Two unattended bonfires were found at a derelict building in Peewit Hill, Bursledon. Crews from Southampton attended.
• A large area of standing crops was severely damaged following the outbreak of a fire in Laverstoke. Two fire engines, two Land Rovers and a water carrier were sent. The farmer assisted by creating fire breaks.
• Fire crews were called to a farmer’s field in Stoke Charity just before 5pm. Hose reel jets and beaters were used and the farmer used a cultivator to create fire breaks. Multiple 999 calls were made to report the incident.
• An area of grassland off Fort Cumberland Road, Southsea, was destroyed by fire. Crews from Southsea attended and it’s believed the fire may have been started deliberately.
• On-call firefighters in the New Forest were called to a house fire in May Avenue and found that a blaze involving a barbecue and gas cylinder had spread to two properties.
• Crews from across the county were called to tackle a large blaze in a field in Overton (pictured). The 800-tonne pile of straw was well-alight, with fire engines, water carriers and Land Rovers responding to the scene at around 18:30. The blaze had spread to the adjoining field, as crews worked alongside the farmer to plough the surrounding grassland creating a firebreak. Jets, hose reels and beaters were used throughout the duration of the operation. Around 15 firefighters continued overnight to extinguish the fire and the incident was handed over to the farmer this morning.

• A Farnham woodland area of four hectares involved in a deep-seated fire was tackled by crews from across Hampshire last night. The 200m-by-200m area affected in the fire was surrounded, with firefighters working overnight to dampen down working alongside the Forestry Commission.

• Four acres of woodland at Padworth Common were involved in a fire which crews from across Hampshire and Berkshire responded to. Crews conducted a watching brief and continued to dampen down overnight.

• New Forest crews tackled a fire involving grass, stubble and trees on Dark Lane in Blackfield. The on-call firefighters worked to protect a nearby pylon that was close to the fire. The fire was stopped using jets, hose reels and beaters before further crews were stood down before they arrived.
• Ventnor firefighters were called to a fire involved a hedgerow and bushes at a school on Newport Road last night. The station’s fire engine, along with the water carrier, was called at 22:28, with numerous calls reporting the incident into the HIWFRS Control Room. The crew extinguished the fire using two hose reel jets before damping down the scene. Firefighters returned to station at 11pm, after informing police that the fire is believed to have been set deliberately.