Fire service called to multiple unattended fires on controversial South Downs site
Firefighters were called twice in three days
Fire services were called twice in three days to reports of fires in a field in the South Downs National Park.
Fires were seen in the same field on the nights of Sunday August 16 and Tuesday August 18 and reported to the Hampshire Fire Serivce.
The field, in Long Road, Soberton, has caused much controversy over the years, as unauthorised buildings and caravan dwellings have appeared illegally in the field and had to be dismantled.
An anonymous resident who lives close to the field said: “They are constantly having huge fires, they have a tethered mare and foal on the land, along with lots of other livestock, protected wildlife species all around, and cattle right next to them.
“On Sunday evening, the fire was so big, it appeared to be spreading. It was as tall as the trees, and it was approximately 20x30 metres in size, with thick, black smoke.”
“The local residents are extremely concerned that one of these fires is going to spread, and cause a fire like the New Forest recently.”
The fire service said that they were called to an unattended bonfire on Sunday night just after 10pm, and used a hose reel to extinguish the 30m by 20m fire.
On Tuesday, they responded to a 5m by 5m fire involving household waste that was unattended, which was put out using jets.
On both occasions, police were informed of the incidents. Both fires occurred after an emergency alert was sent out by the government, warning of the high risk of wildfires nationally and telling people not to “not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks”.