Fire crews are responding to a large field fire that has broken out between Apse Heath and Whiteley Bank this afternoon (Saturday).
Huge plumes of smoke can be seen from miles around – including Wroxall Downs and Brading Downs – as well as from the Garlic Festival site at Hale Common.
A large area has been engulfed by the flames.
It’s unclear at this early stage whether a power cut in the PO37 region is connected with the fire.
UPDATE @ 17:30 – Several appliances are now on scene at Bathingbourne Lane, including a water carrier from Ventnor.
Wholetime and retained firefighters from Newport, Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are on scene.
UPDATE @ 18:26 – The fire has been surrounded but an area of around 5 hectares of grassland has been damaged.
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Omg we were at the garlic festival we could have all been toast.
Great our fire service is better at responding to issues than our Police seems to be nowadays
By any chance was the field mistaken as being an abandoned hotel?
A couple more weeks and they will all be back destroying classrooms and equipment to get their buzz once more.
What like you did when you were young.
dont remember apse heath always thought it was arse heath