Six hours to quell Agneash gorse fire

Winds thought to have reignited controlled burn

Fire crews spent around six hours tackling a large gorse fire at Agneash, Laxey, yesterday afternoon and evening.

They prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby property and once more resources arrived, efforts were made to prevent the fire spreading to neighbouring fields.

The crews were hampered by the prevailing wind conditions, access to the area involved and limited water supplies.

The Agneash road was closed to allow the crews to work safely and relay water to the fire ground from an open water source some distance away.

By 8.15pm the fire had been put out.

Crews then stayed for a further hour, to check for hot spots and dampen down.

It is suspected the fire was caused by winds reigniting an area of previously controlled burning from two days earlier, which rapidly spread due to the current dry spell.

The fire service says if you are considering carrying out a controlled burn call the ESJCR on 697327 before you do so.