 The smoke plume, seen from south Farnham about 10 miles away |
More than 100 firefighters have been involved in dealing with a massive heath fire in Surrey that has been burning since Friday afternoon. The blaze at Thursley Common covers 50 acres, threatening rare birds.
Three firefighters were injured during the blaze and two were taken to hospital but their injuries were not life-threatening, crews said.
Surrey Police said a 52-year-old man, from Thursley, was arrested on suspicion of arson on Friday night.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said relief crews were being brought in on Saturday afternoon.
Ground-nesting birds
The fire service said conditions were ideal for a grass fire to spread.
About 120 firefighters were called to the fire at the heathland nature reserve on Saturday.
Emergency services received numerous 999 calls to report the fire at Thursley Common, which threw up a huge plume of smoke.
Visitors to the English Nature beauty spot were told to leave immediately and 20 houses in Thursley Road, Churt, were evacuated and the road closed.
English Nature said it was too early to assess damage to the 400-acre heath.
Thursley is one of the largest remaining fragments of Surrey heath and supports a rich wildlife including ground nesting birds such as nightjars, woodlark and Dartford warbler.
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