Warning after large wildfire near golf club

Firefighters have warned the public to take extra care after a large wildfire broke out on the edge of Littlehampton Golf Club.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS) sent four fire engines and three off-road vehicles to the scene on Monday evening.

The fire affected gorse, reeds, grassland, trees and around ten tonnes of hay, and was not believed to have begun accidentally, WSFRS said.

The brigade said precautions should be taken during dry weather, warning that fires can spread quickly and pose serious risks to people, property and the environment.

WSFRS said the fire was first reported at 19:05 BST and the final crew left the scene at 23:15 after completing damping down operations.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus worked quickly to bring the fire under control and stop it from spreading further.

A WSFRS spokesperson said the blaze was "rapidly developing" on arrival and required extensive efforts to contain.

They said: "The cause of the fire remains unclear, but it is not believed to have begun accidentally.

"Fortunately there were no casualties as a result of this large fire, but residents living nearby were urged to keep their doors and windows closed due to the large amount of smoke."

The fire damaged approximately two acres of land, including natural vegetation and stored hay.

Residents were reminded by WSFRS to fully extinguish cigarettes, avoid lighting fires in the countryside, and never leave disposable barbecues or campfires unattended.

Glass bottles should also be disposed of properly, as they can magnify sunlight and ignite dry grass, they said.

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