The Isle of Wight Council’s Environment Officer, Davide Fossa, has been praised for his quick thinking after he discovered a wildfire developing in Sandown last week.
As first reported by Island Echo, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service mobilised to land to the rear of Browns in Sandown when Davide discovered the fire in its early stages, and swiftly called 999. He also began directing people away from the area to ensure their safety.
He spotted smoke rising from the undergrowth while on a routine inspection last Friday.
The blaze ended up consuming around 100x100m of grassland, despite the swift response by firefighters from Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Southsea.
Reflecting on the incident, Davide has said:
“I knew every second counted. I made the call, then focused on keeping people at a safe distance until the fire crews arrived. It could have spread so quickly.”
Davide has described the response by local fire crews as a ‘military-style operation’:
“They knew exactly what to do. It was like watching a well-drilled unit in action. They moved with precision, coordinated their efforts seamlessly, and brought the fire under control before it had a chance to spread. It was incredibly impressive.”
Thanks to their swift and strategic response, the blaze was contained and extinguished before it could threaten nearby homes, businesses, or the wider nature reserve.
Davide is 1 of 4 dedicated Environment Officers working for the Isle of Wight Council. This small but highly skilled team play a vital role in safeguarding the Island’s natural environment and making the Island a cleaner, greener place to live and visit. They undertake a number of duties, including inspection of playgrounds, parks and open spaces, and enforcing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).
The team also enforces a range of environmental regulations, including those related to waste management, fly-tipping and littering, helping to maintain standards and prevent harm to the environment.
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, has said:
“Davide’s vigilance and calm response under pressure made all the difference. And we are deeply grateful to the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service for their swift and professional response.
“Their teamwork ensured this incident didn’t escalate into something far more serious.”
Sandown Mayor, Councillor Alex Lightfoot, has added:
“We are grateful for the actions taken by Sandown’s environment officer, and the swift response from our fire service.
“This just demonstrates the value of our partnership working between Sandown Town Council and the Isle of Wight Council.”
I didn’t think IW Council employed eagle eyed persons.
It’s about time they employed eagle eyed civil enforcement
Officers to catch all the Numpty’s parked on Double Yellow
Lines.