PRESS RELEASE 03 August 2022 - FIRE AT PENNINGTON COMMON

A second wildfire broke out on Saturday 30th July 2022 at Pennington Common. The first call was put into the emergency services at 15.55, with officers from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire service on site by 16.04.

The fire was bought under control within one hour using five hose reel jets, one landrover and two main jets. Fire crews stayed until 21:19 to damp down, with inspections through the night and following morning.

The extent of damage travelled from Wainsford Road stretching towards St Marks Graveyard.

Between the two fires it has resulted in the burning of an approximate two hectare area comprised mainly of gorse scrub, together with mixed deciduous scrub, mature trees and species rich grassland. Both fires travelled in a north easterly direction, carried by the prevailing south westerly wind.

Pennington Common is in the ownership of Lymington and Pennington Town Council and the management of the SSSI, part of the New Forest National Park, is undertaken in conjunction with Natural England and support from the Higher-Level Stewardship scheme.

Emergency meetings have taken place with the Town Clerk, Natural England and Station Commander for New Forest West Fire Service to identify areas where mulching and cutting should take place. With the primary aim of minimising risk to any properties and enable any further fires to be bought under control quickly. Contractors are rescheduling other work to carry out the required reductions on Friday 5th August. The annual grass cutting, and removal has been completed. Ditching clearance will take place from Monday 8th August.

The Fire service and police are setting up a community contact point on Pennington Common this coming Saturday 6th August in the afternoon. The is to provide community reassurance and fire safety advice. Two operational vehicles will be present, these may have to depart at short notice.

If any person has knowledge as to how the fire may have started on either occasion, the Town Council urges them to contact the police.

Lymington and Pennington Town Council wishes, once again, to thank the Fire Rescue Teams for their quick response and actions to bring the fire under control.

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