Overnight (14 May and 15 May) firefighters across Berkshire responded to a series of fires in the open. Incidents of note include:
14 May
At 9.28pm, a call was received to a report of a bonfire that had caught alight to trees in Buckden Close in Woodley. Firefighters from Wokingham Road and Wokingham were sent to the scene. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus used four hose reels to extinguish the blaze. The fire had caused damage to a storage trailer and street lamp, as well as damage to a fence and guttering around a property. They were on the scene for around an hour and 25 minutes.
At 9.39pm, a call was received to a report of smoke in the area around Curridge Green in Thatcham. Firefighters from Newbury were sent to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found that there was a diesel bowser on fire at a farm. The crews used two hose reels and a small amount of foam to extinguish the fire; however the bowser was destroyed by the fire. They were on the scene for around an hour and 10 minutes.
15 May
At 6.36am, a call was received to a report of a fire in the open on Yattendon Lane in Thatcham. Firefighters from Newbury was sent to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found approximately 40 tonnes of muck and straw on fire. The crew used a hose reel to extinguish the fire. They were on the scene for around two hours and 10 minutes.
Outdoor fires destroy large areas of countryside and affect hundreds of farms every year. Careful preparation of activities outside and away from the home will go a long way to prevent fires. For further information, please visit: www.rbfrs.co.uk/your-safety/out-and-about/