The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are tackling a fire at Alum Bay in the West Wight this evening (Wednesday).
Plumes of smoke can be seen issuing from the area of the popular chair lift attraction at The Needles Landmark Attraction.
It appears that gorse and other shrubs/bushes are alight in the area off Alum Bay New Road
Appliances from several stations are on scene with a water carrier from Ventnor also en-route.
The alarm was raised sometime around 17:45.
UPDATE @ 18:35 – A total of 5 appliances from Newport, Freshwater, Yarmouth, Cowes and East Cowes, 2 water carriers from Freshwater and Ventnor and 2 officers are now on scene.
The area alight is said to have initially measured 10m x 10m.
Fire control says they are dealing with a large fire in the open.
Firefighters are working to control the spread and dowse the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby properties.
UPDATE @ 19:00 – The blaze has largely been brought under control but crews continue to dowse the area using a mixture of main jets and hose reels.
Water carriers are providing a constant supply of thousands of litres of water to soak the fire ground.
At the height of the incident, flames could be seen ripping through the area.
UPDATE @ 20:40 – The fire, which covered scrubland to approximately 50m x 50m, has been extinguished.
Crews remain on scene dampening down and making the area safe.
East Cowes’ appliance has been released from the incident to standby at Freshwater Fire Station.
The National Trust are on scene and are liaising with fire commanders.
UPDATE THURSDAY – 2 disposal BBQs have been blamed for starting the fire. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/carelessly-discarded-disposal-bbqs-blamed-for-starting-alum-bay-blaze/.
Probably a disregarded cigarette or Something like that
Disposable barbaque
A Big well done to he fire crews.
30c whew
It was a disposable BBQ.
Disposable BBQ’s should be banned. As a crime against food if nothing else!