The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has issued a statement on the ongoing wildfire burning on part of Salisbury Plain.
A huge blaze took hold earlier this week, creating a significant smoke plume which can be seen for miles around.
Situated within the military training area’s impact zone, access is restricted – making it impossible for firefighters to tackle the flames directly.
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said it has “been notified of a fire deep within the impact zone, where we can’t attend”.
Fires on Salisbury Plain are not uncommon, especially during dry spells when military exercises can ignite dry grass and undergrowth.
The MOD manages the land and typically monitors and controls such blazes when they occur in active training zones. If the fire leaves the danger zones, DWFRS may be contacted for assistance.
In a statement, an MOD spokesperson said: “We are aware of a fire in the Central Impact Area of SPTA. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has been informed.
“Fire can occur on the MOD training estate during dry weather. We monitor the risk of fires across the training estate throughout the year, working hard to maintain a balance between the needs of our military and the local communities in which we sit.
“We take our role in trying to prevent and control fires from our activities extremely seriously. MOD has a robust wildfire policy that restricts the use of ordnance, munitions, and explosives when training is taking place during elevated wildfire conditions.
“We use a range a measures to prevent and control range fires, including grazing programmes and fire watch schemes to ensure fires are constantly monitored.”
The fire broke out earlier this week and continued to burn into the weekend, with plumes of smoke visible across parts of Wiltshire. MOD teams are continuing to monitor the situation closely.
There is currently no information about the size of the area affected or how long the fire is expected to burn.
This incident follows previous fires on Salisbury Plain, including one in July 2022 that burned approximately 800 hectares of land. In that case, firefighting efforts included helicopter water drops and ground crews working in areas deemed safe from unexploded ordnance.
There are no reports of injuries or damage to property at this time.
