Crews tackle gorse fire through the night in Peacehaven
Firefighters spent the night tackling a gorse fire on land near Peacehaven Golf Course.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire started just after noon yesterday (Monday 15 July).
Crews were due to reinspect the area at 8pm yesterday but were called back earlier, at 7pm, after the fire flared up again.
They left the incident at 10pm and returned at midnight to reinspect the scene but once again had to tackle the fire which had reignited.
Firefighters remained at the scene and were still there this morning (Tuesday 16 July) damping down with relief crews arriving at 9am.
The fire service said that, at the height of the fire, four Land Rovers were there, having been sent from Seaford, Shoreham, Heathfield and Haywards Heath.
The Land Rovers have been designed to act as lightweight firefighting appliances, ideal in rural and remote areas.
Each vehicle is fitted with a water tank and pump, hoses and equipment, and can cope with most small rural fires.
Firefighters used beaters to fight back the flames, and flexpacks, which are portable water supplies carried on a firefighter’s back.
The fire service urged the public to follow the countryside code including
- Avoiding open fires in the countryside and lighting them only in safe designated areas
- Putting out cigarettes properly
- Taking bottles home for recycling as sunlight shining through glass can start a fire
