Guernsey warning after wildfire the size of three football pitches breaks out

Islanders have been urged not to start bonfires after a wildfire the size of three football pitches broke out.

Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze near Rue à Fresne in Castel earlier.

Guernsey Police advised people to avoid the area while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Rory Quesnel, duty acting watch commander, said crews tackled the flames quickly, adding: "Everything is just so dry and I don't think people appreciate quite how fast something can get out of hand if you're doing a controlled burn."

He said a rapid intervention vehicle, further water carrier and rescue tender were sent to the scene.

The flames were extinguished later on Friday afternoon.

Firefighters then continued to dampen the area to prevent it from reigniting.

Quesnel said: "We would just like to urge people not to do controlled burns because we've been to so many incidents where a controlled burn has got out of hand.

"I think it really does surprise people when everything is tinder-dry, how quickly, with the wind that we get here, it can spread and just get out of control."

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