Fire threatens homes in St Aubin

Monday 14th September 2009, 3:00PM BST.

Huge flames leap above St Aubin. Early investigations indicate that the furze fire may have been started on purpose. Picture by Tony Pike (00787928)

A HUGE fire which threatened several homes in St Aubin last night may have been started deliberately.

Scenes-of-crime officers from the States Police were on site this morning after firefighters spent all night dealing with the blaze above the village.

Early findings from fire investigators have indicated that the furze fire – which has destroyed 15,000 sq metres of woodland – was probably started on purpose.

The alarm was raised at 7.39 pm by an off-duty member of the States Fire and Rescue Service, who spotted flames above the Railway Walk close to the German tunnels. Within minutes flames fanned by the north-easterly winds were leaping up to 50 feet in the air.

Properties on Mont Arthur, Market Hill and Mont Les Vaux were evacuated and their residents moved to the parish hall temporarily because thick smoke filled the valley.

• Pictures: Tony Pike

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