This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-23324392

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Surrey fire crews tackle blaze at Chobham Common Surrey fire crews tackle blaze at Chobham Common
(about 1 hour later)
Two hectares of undergrowth has been destroyed after a heathland fire at a nature reserve in Surrey. Two hectares (5 acres) of heathland has been destroyed after a fire at a nature reserve in Surrey.
It started at Chobham Common, off Staple Hill, at about 21:40 BST on Monday and three crews tackled the blaze through the night.It started at Chobham Common, off Staple Hill, at about 21:40 BST on Monday and three crews tackled the blaze through the night.
Firefighters remain at the scene carrying out checks, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said. At the height of the fire, crews also used backpacks and beaters to deal with the flames.
At the height of the fire, crews also used backpacks and beaters to tackle the flames. The heathland is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust, which said the fire had badly damaged the protected site.
Chobham Common, which is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust, is protected for its lowland heath. Natural England has described the nature reserve as one of the most ancient types of British landscape.
Natural England described it as one of the most ancient types of British landscape. More than 300 plant species are found on the common, including insect-eating sundews and several types of orchid.
More than 300 plant species are found on the common including insect-eating sundews and several types of orchid. Rare bird nests
Steve Fry, senior ranger from Surrey Wildlife Trust, said he was reluctant to describe the fire as arson but suspected either someone had lit a small fire "for whatever purpose", or had deliberately wanted to see what would happen if they set light to the heath.
The fire service has not yet commented on the cause of the fire.
Mr Fry said: "The tragedy of wildfires at this time of year, deliberate or not, is that the wildlife isn't really geared up to cope with any kind of wildfire, so there's little doubt that it would have affected things like our reptiles and lizards and snakes.
"And it's very possible that it might have actually burnt out a couple of territories of quite a rare bird called Dartford warbler."
'Awkward area'
He said it was likely young birds had already left their nests, but added: "You get small creatures and insects which have no escape from something like a fire."
According to Mr Fry, detailed fire plans had been formed for the site after a large blaze at Thursley a few years ago.
He said the plans allowed the fire service to respond with a minimum number of vehicles and ensured they could access the site within minutes.
Crews extinguished the fire, which was on a steep slope, within about two hours but remained at the scene to make sure it did not reignite, he added.