Bradford on Avon and Westbury fires burn as 999 crews battle flames

At around 1.30pm on Friday, August 7, firefighters raced to the scene of a field fire off Slag Lane in Westbury.

Then, around an hour later, the service was called to a field fire on the old golf course, off Avon Close in Bradford on Avon.

Three service vehicles and crews were sent to the Westbury incident, while six raced to Bradford on Avon, firefighters battled for hours in the hot and dry conditions.

One person who was among the first on the scene in Bradford on Avon said that the incident could have been much worse than it was.

Footage of the blaze in Bradford on Avon shared online and with this paper shows large flames consuming vegetation and rapidly spreading across different parts of the field.

The person, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I was down one end of the field, and I ran onto the course once I realised there was smoke billowing from the other side, and we ran down there. There were already kids shouting and trying to get attention, bless them.

“It doesn’t sound dramatic, but it is weird it started in separate…it’s a bit strange. There’s no obvious sign of arson or anything.”

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They also said that there was concern among residents that fire crews had difficulty accessing the affected area, but also that a combined effort of firefighters and locals managed to prevent the incident from getting out of control.

They continued: “There are a lot of foxes, badgers, bats, birds, squirrels, and insects that live on that space. And houses are directly behind - they would’ve definitely gone up if it turned direction.

“We’re lucky that the wind naturally blows down the long stretch easier than it does towards the houses.”

It was only an hour before this incident that a field fire had broken out on the edge of Westbury, with a dog walker sharing dramatic photos of firefighters spraying a field with water.

At around 5pm on Friday, August 7, a spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said: “A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said: "We were called at 1:28pm today with reports of a field fire off Slag Lane, Westbury.

"Pumping appliances were mobilised from Trowbridge, Chippenham and Warminster along with a lightweight 4x4 vehicle from Ludgershall and a water carrier from Wilton.

"Crews used multiple hose reels and beaters to extinguish the fire involving grass and hedgerows.

"Our stop was in at 4:47pm and the size of the fire was approximately 1 acre.  Three appliances remain on scene damping down hotspots."

Responding to an enquiry about the incident on the old golf course, the spokesperson said: "We were called at 2:34pm today to a fire in the open in Avon Close, Bradford on Avon. 

The scene off Slag Lane in Westbury. (Image: Tracey Baker)

"Crews from Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Shaftesbury were mobilised along with an appliance from Bath (Avon FRS).

"On arrival crews found a rapidly developing fire involving grassland and trees and are using multiple main lines, hose reel jets and beaters to extinguish the fire. 

"A further area of fire was also found, and Devizes were mobilised to another area of grass and trees alight.  This is being extinguished using beaters and backpacks."

The person on the scene at the Bradford on Avon also praised the work of the firefighters and said incidents such as this illustrate the importance of the local fire station, whose future was cast in doubt earlier this year.