Firefighters tackle huge blaze at Arrasey

Public urged to refrain from having bonfires

Thirty-five firefighters tackled a huge blaze in the west of the Island late yesterday morning.

Emergency services were rung by a Glen Maye resident from Arrasey Plantation Road, who told them a bonfire had got out of control and set some gorse on fire.

Two appliances were initially dispatched from Peel and Port Erin fire stations.

On route, Peel's crews reported the fire was very large and further resources would be required: three more pumping appliances, two off-road Pinzgauers and a bulk water carrier from Douglas, Castletown and Kirk Michael stations were mobilised.

Due to the location of the blaze and no close water main, crews employed portable pumps to get water from two ponds next to the property.

The wind spread the fire over a large area, which required crews to extend firefighting operations along an 800-metre stretch.

During this incident the ESJCR received call about a fire on the railway embankment in the Castletown area: this left the fire service resources stretched at a time when roads were about to be closed for Saturday evening's TT practice session.

The fire service says it has attended a number of incidents recently where bonfires have got out of control.

It's urging you to refrain from having bonfires during this dry spell, but if you have to, you must inform the Emergency Services Joint Control Room beforehand.