Salisbury Plain fires extinguished, but still risk of re-ignition
The fires on the Salisbury Plain Training Area have been put out and there is no smoke now leaving the area, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has said.
However, the DIO added "a risk of small-scale re-ignition" remains and that it was being monitored closely.
Large blazes took hold on the Wiltshire training area on Monday, caused by an Army unit that was conducting pre-deployment training.
The fire couldn't be contained normally due to the risk of unexploded ordnance on the military site.
A privately hired helicopter was used to douse around – not over – large areas of fire with water dropped at height from a bucket designed specifically for aerial firefighting.
A Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson said that "in order to effectively drop water on the fire from an aircraft, helicopters would have to fly at less than 50m from the ground".
"However, this would put them and their crews at risk from unexploded ordnance, which can be activated by the heat.
"Therefore, unfortunately, helicopters are not an option directly over the impact area," they added.
An Army spokesperson said: "A helicopter was deployed to review the area and dampen down any spots at risk of reigniting."
Watch: Footage of the helicopter putting out the fires.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has been working alongside Salisbury Plain Training Area to contain the fires, and has provided two water carriers, a small 4×4 appliance, a fire engine and provided the water supply to the helicopter.
MOD training on the site was paused due to the fires and would only resume once they had been put out, it was said.
The MOD had apologised to locals who had been advised to stay indoors and shut all windows because of the smoke from the fires coming off the site.
Join Our Newsletter
