Firefighters have worked through the night tackling a major fire at Strawberry Hill Heath in Mansfield, with around 36,000 square metres of woodland and undergrowth affected. Eight fire engines remain at the scene this morning, Sunday, August 9, as Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service continues efforts to bring the incident fully under control. The affected area is estimated at approximately 36,000sqm – equivalent to around five full-size football pitches. Specialist resources remain deployed alongside firefighters, including a High Volume Pump, Command Support and a welfare unit. A one-lane closure is also in place while emergency crews continue operations.
Crews battle blaze throughout the night
The fire initially broke out on Saturday afternoon before the emergency response was significantly increased as conditions developed. At the height of the incident, 12 crews were involved, with firefighters from neighbouring Derbyshire joining Nottinghamshire crews. The Joint Police and Fire drone team was also deployed to provide aerial support to the operation. Firefighters remained on Strawberry Hill Heath throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning. In an update issued at around 8.20am, the fire service confirmed eight appliances remained at the scene and warned that crews were expected to continue working throughout Sunday.
Second major fire at heath in little over a month
The latest incident comes just over a month after another significant fire at Strawberry Hill Heath. That blaze began on July 6 and resulted in a prolonged firefighting operation lasting several days. Strawberry Hill Heath forms part of an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), meaning the extent of damage to woodland and undergrowth could be particularly significant. There has been no confirmation at this stage of what caused the latest fire. Firefighting operations remain ongoing and further updates are expected as crews continue working at the scene.
