Blaze that closed new bypass could be seen from miles away
A NEWLY completed bypass was closed during a large grass fire at the weekend.
Dozens of firefighters were called to the scene near the new Swadlincote to Woodville road, which was among several routes closed in the area as a precautionary measure.
Fire crews arrived at the scene at around 9pm on Saturday to reports of a large grass fire. It is understood that no buildings were involved and no-one was injured.
Social media users soon started posting dramatic photos and videos showing the scale of the incident and commented on how quickly the fire had spread.
There were huge plumes of smoke and the flames could be seen from miles away.
One reader who was near Arliston Drive said they could see the flames over the roofs of some of the industrial buildings nearby.
They said: “I live nearby and heard lots of sirens which was unusual so thought it must have been bad – maybe a house fire. I went to see what had happened and saw the flames quite far away but they were big. All over there is just lots of grass near the new bypass. I hope no-one was hurt. I don’t know how it happened.”
It is not yet known how the fire started.
A spokesman for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 8.57pm to a grass fire in fields between Occupation Lane and Mushroom Lane. The fire was approximately 50 metres by 50 metres. Crews from Swadlincote, Melbourne, Coalville, Burton, Market Bosworth and Castle Donington attended. Our stop message came through at 6.29am [Sunday morning.]”
Police closed off part of the new bypass nearest to Occupation Lane in Woodville. Fire crews were also seen parked up in nearby Arliston Drive, which was also closed off. The access to Occupation Lane from a double mini-roundabout in Albert Village was also cordoned off.