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Chobham Common wildfire evacuation warning | Chobham Common wildfire evacuation warning |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A large wildfire has been burning on heathland in Surrey amid soaring temperatures earlier in the south east of England. | |
A huge plume of smoke could be seen rising from Chobham Common as multiple fire crews were sent to tackle the flames on Friday. | A huge plume of smoke could be seen rising from Chobham Common as multiple fire crews were sent to tackle the flames on Friday. |
Firefighters tweeted that anyone in the area should leave immediately. | Firefighters tweeted that anyone in the area should leave immediately. |
The grass fire, which is larger than 40 hectares, has spread to Wentworth Golf Club. | The grass fire, which is larger than 40 hectares, has spread to Wentworth Golf Club. |
Play was suspended at the club, with the Rose Ladies Series Grand Final brought to a halt. | Play was suspended at the club, with the Rose Ladies Series Grand Final brought to a halt. |
Smoke from the fire was visible from more than 10 miles (16km) away, and some people on social media mistakenly said the smoke was coming from Heathrow Airport. | |
A "significant number" of emergency services were likely to remain at the scene for "for some time," Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said at about 22:00 BST. | |
Trains were disrupted and motorists were told to follow Surrey Police Twitter for road closure details. | |
SFRS said it had sent 10 engines and 10 4x4 vehicles to help tackle the fire. | |
"If you are on Chobham Common please evacuate the area immediately for your safety," the service said. | "If you are on Chobham Common please evacuate the area immediately for your safety," the service said. |
Michael Gove, the MP for Surrey Heath, said the fire was a "terrible tragedy," and was "horrified" by the damage it had caused. | |
A spokesman for the fire service said the alert came at about 12:25. | |
"Approximately 41 hectares of grass and undergrowth are alight," he said. | "Approximately 41 hectares of grass and undergrowth are alight," he said. |
Surrey Search and Rescue sent a drone up to monitor the fire and tweeted they had been called out to support the fire service on the heath. | |
Chobham Common was closed between Titlarks Hill Road and the roundabout with Windsor Road and Chertsey Road. | |
On its website, South Western Trains said a line was blocked at Longcross because of a fire next to the track and services may be cancelled, delayed or revised, with disruption expected until 20:00. | |
The fire broke out as the UK was set for one of its hottest days on record, with temperatures reaching more than 36C (96.8F) in south-east England. | The fire broke out as the UK was set for one of its hottest days on record, with temperatures reaching more than 36C (96.8F) in south-east England. |
Surrey Fire Brigades Union tweeted that the Surrey and neighbouring brigades were struggling to contain the fire in "arduous working conditions". |