Second Heath Fire on Worplesdon’s Whitmoor Common In Two Days!

Published on: 1 Sep, 2013
Updated on: 1 Sep, 2013

Firefighters have attended another heath fire on Whitmoor Common, Worplesdon – just two days after the blaze previously reported on The Guildford Dragon NEWS.

A firefighter damps down the blaze on Whitmore Common on Saturday evening.

A firefighter damps down the blaze on Whitmoor Common on Saturday evening. All pictures by Malcolm Fincham.

Once again our birdwatching and nature corresponded Malcolm Fincham was walking over the common and was surprised to see fire crews extinguishing the latest blaze.

Tonight (August 31) Malcolm said: “Arriving back on Saturday evening on another birdwatching venture I was surprised and shocked to see a fire crew back in the same area they had been just two days previous, and an area now burnt to almost the size of a football pitch.

Tow fire tenders were sent to the blaze.

Two fire tenders were sent to tackle the blaze.

“Two fire tenders were at the scene and although no smoke or flames remained when I was there, several firefighters were dowsing the area with water.”

A firefighter told Malcolm that the fire began that afternoon and personally believed it must have been started deliberately.

The area of burned heath can clearly be seen – now about the size of a football pitch.

Malcolm added: “It certainly appeared that way as it was exactly the same area as the previous blaze. The firefighter also told me, in so many words, that with heathland areas now so dry how they on alert and very aware of a possible ‘big one’. So the public should remain vigilant and report such incidents straight away.

“From my personal point of view it saddens me to realise how ignorant some people can be to possible consequences to such action, if it was a case of arson, not just to wildlife (fortunately the breeding season has finished for most birds including ground nesting ones such as nightjars and meadow pipits) but the possible dangers to both people and property too.”