A wildfire in County Durham that tore through a field and grew to the size of 14 football pitches has been described as 'frightening' by witnesses. The Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service received 64 emergency calls on Saturday as smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles.
Blaze Erupts During Countryside Walk
Sarah and Jeff Wingfield were enjoying a walk near High Shincliffe when they noticed the smoke. 'We had just finished our circular walk in Durham and were heading home. We saw the smoke and then the flames spread so quickly from one side of the field to the next,' Sarah said.
According to Sarah, the fire rapidly escalated, consuming the field and raising concerns for wildlife and crops. 'I checked other onlookers had phoned the fire service and they had. I was devastated to see this happen to our beautiful countryside, the farmer's crops and the worry for the wildlife in the field,' she added.
Emergency Response and Scale
Firefighters were called to the scene at 2:14 pm on Sunday, 12 July. The fire spread across approximately 100,000 square metres, equivalent to 14 football pitches. Smoke was reportedly visible from as far away as Durham city centre.
Sarah and her husband helped direct fire crews to the location. 'We directed the fire service down the lane by waving and pointing towards the path. But it was frightening how big the fire was becoming, so we left,' she said.
Fire Brought Under Control
Fire crews managed to bring the blaze under control within 30 to 45 minutes of arriving at the scene. 'Later, we drove past and the whole field was gone. Thankfully the fire service had done an incredible job. But the loss of that whole field was so upsetting,' Sarah reflected.
The incident was officially categorised as a wildfire by the fire service, highlighting the severity of the event.
