Third Mainland Fire Service Joins Battle Against Headon Warren Wildfire As Recovery Expected To Take Years

Firefighters remain at Headon Warren for a third consecutive day following one of the Isle of Wight's largest wildfires in recent years, with additional mainland resources continuing to support the major operation.

The blaze, which broke out on Thursday morning, has destroyed around 60 acres of nationally important heathland, leaving vast areas of the West Wight beauty spot blackened and scorched.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service confirmed firefighters worked through Friday night to prevent the fire from reigniting. Earlier on Saturday, six crews remained at the scene tackling hotspots, before the operation was scaled back later in the day to four crews.

A specialist High Volume Pump is continuing to supply water to the incident by drawing seawater directly from the coast. Firefighters from a mainland service have been operating the equipment while Island crews continue damping down the affected area.

Resources are expected to remain at a similar level for the rest of the weekend.

Support from the mainland has grown throughout the incident, with crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and Avon Fire and Rescue Service all assisting.

Earlier in the response, an MD Hughes 500 helicopter equipped with a specialist Bambi Bucket carried out repeated water drops over the fire ground.

Despite the blaze now being under control, firefighters say there remains a risk of flare-ups, with crews continuing to monitor hotspots across the site.

In an update on Saturday afternoon, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said:

"Our firefighters continue to monitor and damp down any hot spots to prevent flare ups.

"At present we have four crews on site, and a crew from Devon and Somerset are operating the high volume pump that is being used to extract water from the sea to use at the incident.

"Our resources at this incident are likely to stay at around the same level for the rest of the weekend.

"We ask that residents and visitors continue to avoid the area and some public footpaths remain closed."

The National Trust has warned the environmental impact of the wildfire will be felt for years to come.

A spokesperson said it is too early to say exactly how long the landscape will take to recover, but warned it could be "many years" before Headon Warren returns to its former condition.

Meanwhile, Island resident Raven Pitman has launched a JustGiving page to thank the firefighters who have spent days battling the blaze, with donations intended as a gesture of appreciation for the emergency crews' efforts.

Residents and visitors are being urged to continue avoiding Headon Warren while emergency services remain on site and some public footpaths stay closed.