A field fire has been tackled by firefighters in Wootton this lunchtime (Thursday).
Crews from Newport, Ryde, Shanklin and Ventnor are currently on scene in a field off Packfield Lane, beside the steam railway line between Wootton and Havenstreet.
They have successfully contained and extinguished a fire covering an area of 50x30m in size, but are still working to damp down the affected area.
A water carrier from Ventnor has been called in to boost water supplies.
It is thought that embers from a passing steam locomotive sparked the fire.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the incident at around 11:00.
I saw recently that the Swanage Steam Railway had stopped using steam trains during this hot and dry weather, to take the risk of fires away. They are only using their diesel trains. I don’t know if that’s an option for Havenstreet, but the risk of a much bigger fire next time is significant.
I believe the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway also only ran diesels for this reason
I think the biggest shock is that Ventnor had crews out and about must be the first time this year