Firefighters from Newport, Shanklin and Ventnor are attending a field fire in Arreton this evening (Thursday), which has been stopped just metres from the local primary school.
A section of the field immediately behind Arreton Primary has been left charred by the fire, which broke out sometime around 18:40 and threatened to spread to the school building.
Fire crews from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have been able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from developing into a bigger incident.
Positive pressure ventilation is being used to rid smoke from inside the school, and extra water resource is being provided by the water carrier from Ventnor.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks engineers are also in attendance due to electricity supply issues in the area, which has left Arreton without power.
It’s unclear at this early stage whether the fire was caused by an electrical fault, or whether the power was knocked out by the flames – with power lines overhead.
If you see a fire in the countryside, contact the fire service immediately on 999. Do not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water.
Remember, do not discard cigarettes or other smoking materials in the countryside. It is also important to clear away bottles, glasses and any broken glass to avoid them magnifying the sun and starting a fire.
Always take extra care if using a barbecue and only light fires or BBQs in designated areas. Never leave a campfire or BBQ unattended and extinguish them properly after you have finished using them.
A field fire does not start on it’s own !!!!!!
No, on this occasion goose did it.
I blame all that excessive punctuation.
A fire can be started in hot weather by a glass bottle or other glass object. I have seen this happen during a heat wave when a discarded bottle ignited.
i was told by the electrical bods ,There was an electrical cable down. This could have started the fire
Yes – after a goose flew into it.
Field fires, wild fires, disused buildings fires. You islanders are a bunch of pyromaniacs!
Wait until schooling breaks for the Summer. This is the quiet time unless hopefully it rains for the 6 weeks
Are there any schools left that actually educate???…
The only education taught is Wokism
And a dangerous ideal that is too.
They instruct how to accept the unacceptable still I believe