Common ablaze

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Apr 2007.

FIREFIGHTERS battled a bush fire in Danbury Common.

The emergency services were alerted to a bracken blaze on the common on Wednesday at 12.22pm, and fire crews from Great Baddow and Maldon were dispatched to the scene, at Backwarden Nature Reserve.

When the two teams arrived they found around 1,000 square metres - a quarter of an acre - of heathland consumed by smoke.

The firefighters got the blaze under control and put it out by 1.25pm.

They spent nearly 40 minutes turning over and damping down the remains of the fire.

No members of the public were caught in the blaze, the cause of which remains a mystery.

Scott Morrow, of Essex County Fire and Rescue, said: "There are many reasons why these fires start.

"The most common are discarded cigarette butts and people starting small fires that get out of control.

"We have had a lot of dry summers, and last year there were a number of field fires.

"The chances are there will be more like this in the coming months."

Mr Morrow said anyone who sees a grass or bush fire should report it to the fire service as soon as possible.

He added that extra care should be taken when dealing with fires and discarding cigarette ends in the approach to summer.

The Backwarden Nature Reserve is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.

A spokesperson for the trust said it was too early to comment on the extent of damage done to the reserve, but an investigation was underway.

This type of fire is more common in months like July and August, but a recent dry spell and the warmer weather made the blaze possible.

The Met Office has said this year's summer will be very hot, increasing the risk of bush fires in woodlands and fields.