A significant gorse fire that erupted on Little Sark, a peninsula of the island of Sark within the Bailiwick of Guernsey, was brought under control on Friday after being declared a major incident. The blaze, which began on Friday morning, covered an estimated 20,000 square metres of cliff land, prompting a multi-agency response from emergency services and local residents.
Sark Fire & Rescue Service, Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service, and the Ambulance & Rescue Service Guernsey collaborated to tackle the extensive fire. However, the operation saw five firefighters from Guernsey sustain non-life-threatening injuries shortly after arriving on Sark. They were assessed by medical personnel at the scene before being transported via marine ambulance, the Flying Christine III, to Guernsey's emergency department for further treatment. Additional firefighters were deployed to ensure continued emergency response.
The States of Guernsey confirmed that the fire was restricted to the cliff areas, and critically, no properties were affected by the inferno. The current north/north-easterly wind direction was deemed favourable, blowing the flames out to sea and significantly reducing the risk of further spread across the island. Despite this, fire crews were expected to remain on site overnight and for several days to effectively dampen down the extensive area and prevent any re-ignition.
Kevin Adams, Chief Fire Officer at Sark Fire and Rescue Service, described it as the largest fire he had ever witnessed on Sark, noting a "massive plume of white smoke" visible from the island and as far as Guernsey's east coast. Local residents, including Phil Perree from Little Sark, expressed gratitude for the rapid response, highlighting the frightening speed at which the fire initially spread.
Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, issued advice regarding the potential health risks associated with wildfire smoke. She cautioned that smoke contains fine particulate matter and other pollutants that can travel considerable distances, posing a risk to vulnerable groups such as older adults, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with heart or lung conditions. Islanders were advised to minimise smoke exposure, stay indoors, and keep windows closed if air quality deteriorated.