Helicopters to drop water around Salisbury Plain fires
Two blazes are still ongoing on the training area
Water is being dropped onto Salisbury Plain by helicopter this evening (Wednesday 13th July), to try and help contain two wildfires there that have been burning since Monday.
It's the first time this method's ever been used on the training area.
It'll dampen the areas around the current flames, as it's unsafe to fly directly over the blaze itself, in case the heat causes unexploded devices to go off.
Commandant of the Salisbury Plain Training Area, Lieutenant Colonel Vance Worsley says this could be a gamechanger:
"This is definitely new for Salisbury Plain but I think this is possibly a way forward. That will be dropping water to try and suppress the current fires we've got going on, on the impact area. That's a big improvement and will hopefully help the community."
Helicopters could also be used tomorrow, and again on Friday if required.
The fires have been ongoing since Monday, caused by live firing from training exercises.
Lt Col Vance Worsley says it's been difficult to tackle so far:
"I've only been able to allow troops to go 500 metres, because that's been cleared. We're also giving that guidance to the helicopter to work on the periphery of the danger area. So fortunately, how the weather's worked today, it's pushed the fires to the periphery so we'll be able to use the helicopter. That's what to our advantage, so that's one good thing about the weather that's helped us!"
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue say they remain on standby to support the Army should any fires spread further.
They've had crews from Wimborne and Salisbury on site this afternoon, along with 4x4s from Christchurch and Wimborne, and water carriers from Poole and Andover.
There's still a reminder to keep doors and windows closed where possible if smoke is drifting across from the fires.