Firefighters Called Back To Headon Warren After Small Fire Rekindles

Firefighters have been called back to Headon Warren after a small fire broke out at the site of last month's devastating wildfire.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was alerted shortly before midday today (Tuesday) following reports of a fire covering an area of around 2 metres by 2 metres.

Despite the blaze being relatively small, a number of fire appliances were sent to the scene, including a water carrier and Shanklin's specialist off-road wildfire vehicle, because of the remote location and the heightened risk of the flames spreading across the dry heathland.

On arrival, firefighters discovered a small hotspot, which was quickly brought under control using knapsack sprayers, preventing it from spreading any further.

The incident comes less than a fortnight after a major wildfire swept across Headon Warren in what became one of the Isle of Wight's largest ever wildfire responses.

The blaze, which started on 23rd July, prompted a huge emergency operation involving more than 80 firefighters at its peak, supported by a helicopter carrying out repeated drops of seawater onto the flames.

Fire crews remained at the scene for five days before the fire was finally extinguished, by which time around 60 acres of protected heathland had been destroyed.