A major wildfire which continues to cause widespread devastation at Headon Warren in the West Wight is believed to have been started by a man-made fire, with video evidence documenting a possible seat of fire.
As first reported by Island Echo, emergency calls reporting the developing fire at Headon Warren, near The Needles, were first received by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service at around 09:15 this morning (Thursday).
Pumping appliances from Freshwater, Ryde, Cowes, Ventnor, East Cowes and Newport were initially mobilised, alongside specialist 4×4 appliances from Ryde and Shanklin due to the challenging terrain.
In the latest update, it has been confirmed that the fire has spread to around 800x400m, with around 14 fire crews in attendance from across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.
Firefighters have faced significant challenges throughout the day, with no conventional fire appliances able to reach the blaze. Crews have instead tackled the fire on foot using knapsack sprayers, while water has been relayed up the hillside from Headon Rise using pumping appliances, portable pumps and a temporary dam to maintain water supply and pressure.
Operatives from the National Trust have worked alongside firefighters throughout the incident, helping improve access to the remote location and assisting with moving heavy equipment and hose.
Island Echo’s drone technology has also been deployed to provide incident commanders with a live aerial view of the fire ground. WightSAR – the Island’s volunteer search and rescue organisation – has now been drafted in to provide aerial support.
Despite firefighters at the scene believing the wildfire was potentially started by a man-made fire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has not yet officially confirmed the cause.
Any formal investigation into how the blaze started is expected to take place once the incident has been brought fully under control, which could take several hours – if not days.
