A woman living near Holme Fen nature reserve in Cambridgeshire has described the current fire as the closest threat to local homes she has witnessed in two decades. Julie Heap, who resides on Station Road in Holme, stated that while fires at the 660-acre site are not uncommon, the current blaze, which has engulfed half of the woodland, feels different.
Ms Heap noted the visible smoke approaching and the constant smell of burning in her home, leading her family to prepare for a potential evacuation order. She added that ambulances and rapid response teams were present outside her house.
The fire, near Peterborough, has been ongoing since Saturday and is now in its sixth day. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue area commander Wayne Swales said the incident has placed significant pressure on the service, requiring additional crews from as far as Merseyside. On Wednesday afternoon, incident commander Vicky Best confirmed 11 appliances remained at the scene, with a contractor clearing a path to allow firefighters to attack the blaze from the centre.