Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have released shocking footage of a wildfire that ripped through a remote area of woodland in Newcastle yesterday afternoon (June 14).
The fire in Prestwick Carr was reported to have broken out just after 1pm yesterday, as fifty-six firefighters were deployed to the scene to reach the blaze that had started in a “densely wooded area” that was hard to reach.
A crew including firefighters, two drone pilots, three fire officers, ten appliances and a high-volume pump were at the scene at its height, with some staying to extinguish the blaze overnight.
Read more: Pictures as firefighters battle large wildfire on Newcastle woodland
The blaze has been said to have reached the size of five football pitches which meant crews had to walk miles in the “blistering heat” to bring the fire under control.
Following the incident, Area Manager Paul Russell of Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service who managed the response has praised firefighters for their continuous efforts in difficult conditions.
He said: "This is a difficult response due to the location of the fire, and the weather but our firefighters have been working tirelessly through the night to keep the fire under control.
"Today we will be stepping up our efforts again to get this fire extinguished and preserve as much of the nature reserve as we can. The drone footage we are releasing shows the scale of the damage this fire has caused, and the nature of what we have been faced with since that first emergency call.”
He added: "I want to take this opportunity to thank our Fire Control staff, the firefighters and every member of support staff who assisted our response.
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"We are really proud of how hard they are working, and we hope that the public is reassured that our staff will be there through thick and thin to keep communities safe.”
The fire service has also re-issued its advice to nearby residents, urging them to keep their windows closed and seek medical attention if they experience breathing difficulties.
Both the fire service and Northumbria Police will remain in the area today as they launch an investigation into the cause of the fire.
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