Serious grass fire near Figheldean as officials warn about holding illegal BBQs
A drone image from the scene shows grass badly damaged
Last updated 10th May 2022
There's a renewed plea to stick to the bylaws on Salisbury Plain after a blaze, caused by an illegal fire pit, almost got out of control.
The fire near Figheldean on Saturday (7th May) started in a plantation and resulted in a number of young fir trees catching alight.
The blaze spread fairly rapidly in the grass due to the wind conditions, but thankfully, a number of the range team, helped by the person who reported it, managed to control the spread before it reached a nearby road and much needed pasture.
The Fire Service also attended and helped dowse the embers, preventing it reigniting.
On investigation, it appeared that it was started by an unattended fire pit that had been dug by members of the public that may have camped there overnight.
Remnants of corn-on-the-cob and a wine bottle were found next to the pit.
A spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
"We were called there at 3.10pm on Saturday. Crews from Salisbury and Andover attended, together with a small 4x4 appliance from Ludgershall. The stop was at 3.44pm, the MoD had got it all under control when we arrived, so we just finished off damping down and made sure there was no fire spread."
The people responsible had contravened most of the bylaws such as entering plantations, camping, digging, starting fires, leaving rubbish, removing signs (there were remnants of a signpost in the ashes) and chopping branches off the trees.
With the spell of dry weather people are experiencing, officials have urged locals to be considerate to the environment.
Current conditions means there's currently a pyrotechnics ban on military training with any unit wishing to use anything other than blank ammunition having to gain special dispensation.