Fire chiefs investigating cause of huge Staffordshire wildfire at Gentleshaw Common as crews remain on site
Fire chiefs are investigating the cause of a huge blaze at Gentleshaw Common near Burntwood on Friday night which took hold of three acres of land.
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Residents living near the Gentleshaw Common beauty spot were urged to stay indoors as crews from Brewood, Cannock, Chase Terrace, Codsall, Lichfield and Wombourne assisted by appliances from West Midlands Fire Service. Some described the blaze as 'Like an Apocalypse hitting.'
The crews tackled the fire in segments, helping to contain the fire and extinguish it quicker.
It was extinguished by around midnight, with further damping down and inspections taking place on Saturday morning to prevent any further fires occurring. Some crews are expected to be there today for further checks.
Fire chiefs say they are investigating the cause of the blaze and also issued advice to prevent further occurences.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire Service said: "The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but we are working with Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to establish the circumstances.
"As we enter the drier months, we urge everyone to take care on moorland: No bonfires or disposable BBQs – even a small spark can ignite disaster; Check your chimneys - ensure they’re swept to prevent stray embers; Be responsible - take all rubbish home, and never discard cigarettes or glass on the moors; If you find a fire in the countryside don’t attempt to tackle it, call 999 and ask for the fire service immediately.
