The National Trust has thanked the 65 firefighters and wider teams who remain at the scene of a major wildfire at Headon Warren, working to save the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The devastating blaze broke out at around 09:15 this morning (Thursday), as first reported by Island Echo. At the time, emergency services received calls reporting the rapidly developing blaze, which, due to wind direction and the recent extreme dry weather, spread over 50m in around 30 minutes.
Emergency services have struggled to get a handle on the blaze due to its geographical location. Being on a remote heathland, with no direct access to water, crews have had to establish a dam and relay system to thrust water up the hill.
The Island has pulled together, with members of staff from the National Trust providing firefighters with every helping hand they could, including equipment deliveries, use of their off-roading vehicles, and deliveries of water and food for the frontline workers.
A tractor and its driver from a nearby farm also arrived, where they ploughed through the harsh and overgrown terrain to create a fire break if the wind changed direction.
Owing to the rare scale of the wildfire, appliances from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, based at Island locations including Newport, Ryde, Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Freshwater and East Cowes, were all quickly mobilised to the scene.
Some 22 crews from the mainland have been drafted to the Isle of Wight, making the journey across the Solent to tackle the growing inferno. Appliances from Southsea, Lymington, Emsworth, Portchester, St Mary’s, Hardley, Havant and Hightown are all involved, with Cosham and Gosport providing standby cover.
A total of 14 pumps are now in attendance in the West Wight, alongside 2 water pumps, a Shanklin 4×4 as well as 3 command vehicles.
Land keepers have responded to news of the devastating blaze that currently sits at around 1000 x 800m, saying:
“We’d like to thank the fire crews for their swift response and ask everyone to avoid the area while emergency services are at work.”
A spokesperson for the National Trust has pleaded:
“With the countryside currently so dry, it only takes a single spark to start a devastating fire. Heathland is one of the UK’s rarest habitats and supports some of the Isle of Wight’s most precious wildlife.
“Fires can destroy decades of conservation work in a matter of hours and put people, wildlife and emergency responders at risk.
“If you’re visiting the countryside, please help protect these special places. Don’t light barbecues or campfires, don’t discard cigarettes or matches, and take all litter home with you – even glass bottles can pose a fire risk in hot conditions”
Headon Warren is a particularly sentimental area of the Isle of Wight, with residents and visitors who have holidayed in the area of outstanding natural beauty feeling especially sad today.
The area, which is home to the Isle of Wight’s largest maritime heathland and rare limestone grassland, has been subject to a restoration partnership between the National Trust and Warren Farm, who have worked tirelessly to conserve, restore and enhance the habitat and landscape – preserving its beauty and ecological value.
