Huge Blaze Hits Neston Marshland – Six Fire Engines Rush to Scene
Cheshire Fire Service scrambled six fire engines to battle a roaring blaze at Neston, which erupted just before 6.30pm on Saturday.
Marshland Goes Up in Flames – Fire Spreads Fast
The fire engulfed about 1 square kilometre (0.4 square miles) of marshland, a protected site of special scientific interest. Firefighters battled through the night and reported the blaze was “mainly extinguished” by midnight.
Two separate fires broke out across the marsh, forcing crews to set fire breaks to shield nearby homes from the fiery onslaught.
Suspected Arson Sparks Police Probe
Fire chiefs have contacted police and a fire investigator, suspecting the fire could have been started deliberately.
Eyewitness: ‘The Sky Was On Fire’
Peter Guy, 43, visiting nearby Parkgate with his family, said he spotted the blaze moments after finishing fish and chips.
“It started off looking like a regular bonfire and then I noticed the fire getting closer to us,” Peter said. “There was no explosion, but the fire took hold rapidly, creating a wall of flames across the marshland.”
“There were so many people enjoying the beautiful sunset. I’ve never seen anything like it – it was like the sky was on fire,” he added.
Fire Service Declares Fire Out by Sunday Morning
By midnight, all but one fire engine had pulled back as the tide came in, with the blaze largely under control.
At 7am on Sunday, crews confirmed the fire was fully out after a thorough sweep of the area using thermal imaging cameras.
