A FIRE at Hartlebury Common raged through about 2,000 square metres of trees and undergrowth last night.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (H&WFRS) received about 50 calls yesterday afternoon reporting smoke in the Hartlebury Road area of Stourport.

The first of these was received at 5.50pm and two fire engines from Kidderminster were dispatched.

Finding about 1,000 square metres of woodland and vegetation on fire at Hartlebury Common, further resources were called for, with six pumps in attendance at the height of the incident. These included additional fire engines from Stourport, Drotwich, Worcester and Bromsgrove as well as the Argocat and Pinzgauer vehicles from both Bewdley and Malvern and the water carrier from Evesham.

Police were called to manage traffic in the area.

Firefighters used three hose reels and four main jets to fight the fire, as well as the Pinzgauer to carry out a full survey of the site.

The incident was scaled down to two pumps in the early hours of this morning, with firefighters using back packs and the thermal imaging camera to help identify any fire hot spots.

Regular weather reports were also supplied to fire officers throughout the course of the incident.

Station commander Chris George-Burnell from H&WFRS said: “With the gusty wind conditions and flames up to 35 metres high at times, crews had to work really hard to surround this fire and bring it under control.”

An estimated 2,000 square metres of trees and undergrowth are thought to have been affected by the fire, and relief crews from H&WFRS are still at the scene, continuing to damp down.

While the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, SC George-Burnell urged members of the public to be extra vigilant following spells of dry weather and to ensure that cigarettes and matches are disposed of with care.

Did you see the fire? Share your eyewitness account by commenting on this story or email jennifer.meierhans@kidderminstershuttle.co.uk