Major incident declared amid 'high number' of fires

A major incident has been declared in two counties amid a high number of fires.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said the authority is responding to a large number of incidents across the service area.

It comes as firefighters battle a blaze on grassland near the Westbury White Horse in Bratton, Wiltshire.

A DWFRS spokesperson said: "We are working hard to respond to emergency calls as quickly as possible and want to reassure the public that if you dial 999 for the fire service, you will get help."

"We are asking the public to take extra precautions during this period and would encourage you all to consider these measures too," the spokesperson added.

It comes as people have been warned to avoid Westbury after a wildfire broke out there earlier. Nearby residents have also been urged to close doors and windows if affected by a "large amount of smoke".

An area of about four acres (1.6 hectares) was found "well alight", the fire service added, with hose reel jets and beaters used to tackle the blaze.

Resident Neil Adams said: "It's such a landmark and to see it going up in flames is pretty emotional to be honest.

"Everywhere's become so dry and if it got up on [Salisbury] Plain I don't think they'd be able to stop it.

"You see these fires all the time, they've got that one in the New Forest, but when you see it close to home it just makes you think."

The BBC understands the blaze is still some distance from the famous white horse chalk figure.

The fire service has urged people to:

• Extinguish cigarettes properly, don't throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
• Please avoid having BBQs on the heath or in open spaces.
• Do not have bonfires or fires in the open
• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Early detection can prevent it from developing into a large wildfire incident.

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