Resident warns of fire risks after home damaged by field blaze

A Warminster resident whose home was badly damaged by a field fire last year is warning of the risks of fires spreading from agricultural land during the current hot and dry conditions.

Donna Peake’s home in Ashley Coombe was damaged last July by a fire which started in a nearby field, with thick smoke spreading across the town and residents living nearby evacuating as a precaution.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service says that it was believed to have started accidentally.

Donna said the experience had left her concerned about the potential for another fire during the current dry conditions.

“Last July, our property in Ashley Coombe was badly damaged by fire, which started in the farmer’s field behind us,” said Donna. “We lost our garden, and we had to rebuild our conservatory and our fences.”

Donna said she had seen agricultural machinery being used in fields behind her home on Saturday 15th August, the day after the government issued an alert warning of a very high risk of wildfires nationally and advising residents and landowners not to undertake activities that could start a fire.

“Work in the field goes on regardless of the hot weather and drought conditions,” she said. “The current heat levels mean that a farmer going out to cut grass by the edge of neighbours’ properties has to consider the risks involved, and what he can do to minimise the risk of fire.”

Donna said her concerns had been prompted by her experience of last year’s fire and the potential consequences if another blaze were to spread towards nearby properties.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said, “We understand the concerns associated with these types of fires but recognise that farmers still need to harvest crops and carry out essential work, so we do our best to provide appropriate safety guidance to help prevent them.”

The service has warned that hot and dry conditions can make field fires difficult to control and has advised farmers to take precautions when using machinery. It has highlighted the risk of dust and chaff building up in machinery and the potential for sparks when flint is caught during agricultural work.