Suspected arson bonfire extinguished by fire crews promoting water safety at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre

Fire crews were called to a suspected arson incident in Thatcham today (Monday) while already close to the scene handing out water safety leaflets.

Members of the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service were promoting water safety at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre when they were called to an incident 300m away.

The team tackled the fire with beaters and buckets of water before two pumps from Newbury and Theale fire stations extinguished the bonfire.

A Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "At 2.28pm on August8 (Monday), we received reports of a fire in the open on Lower Way in Thatcham.

"Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Crews from Newbury and Theale fire stations were sent to the scene.

"Upon arrival, crews found a fire in an area of woodland. Crews are currently using backpack extinguishers, beaters and a hose reel to tackle the fire."

Station manager Riley was at the scene and told Newburytoday: “We were already here promoting water safety because there’s lakes here.

“We were putting posters in local area trying to warn them of the risks of swimming in open water.

“Whilst we were here we got called to an incident around 300m away.”

He continued: “We saw another plume of smoke and luckily were on the scene to stop it relatively quickly before it got hold of the whole of the nature reserve.”

“We believe it is possibly arson.

"With this dry weather it doesn’t take anything to catch alight to the undergrowth.

“It was just thankful that we were here at the time otherwise this could have been a lot worse. We were able to put water on it quite quickly.”