Published: 21:24, July 19, 2022
Updated: 9:52 PM July 19, 2022
Firefighters are currently battling a large fire near Swaffham, where several houses have been set on fire.
Teams were set on fire in a field behind The Oaks in Ashhill around 5pm, where there are about 15 engines at the scene.
The fire quickly spread to the center of the village to The Green, adjacent to the duck pond where houses can be seen burning, with all Ashill roads currently closed.
Firefighters are battling a fire in Ashill, near Swaffham. – Credit: conranphotography.net
Other homes near the fire have been evacuated.
No one is believed to have been injured in the blaze.
Tears of fire through the houses of Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net
Will Conran, who lives nearby, said many parts of the village were still burning, hours after the fire started.
Firefighters are battling a fire in Ashill, near Swaffham. – Credit: conranphotography.net
He said: “There is a lot of activity here even hours later.
“It originated in a wheat field and has spread to several properties, it has come a very long way.
“Many houses are on fire and some have just been modernized, in the gardens you can see the builder’s equipment.
Firefighters are battling a fire in Ashill, near Swaffham. – Credit: conranphotography.net
“People are spotted, there is smoke everywhere and the police are giving masks because it is black smoke, I was coughing and hissing.
Tears of fire through the houses of Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net
“There are still firefighters arriving at the scene and police have declared it a major incident.”
People living in the area said they were amazed at how quickly the fire reached the center of the village.
Houses are currently burning in Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net
A woman living in the area, who did not want to be named, said: “She has been provoking carnage, started in the backyard of houses and quickly approached.
“I hope everyone in these houses is okay.”
Firefighters are fighting the fire in Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net
A man living nearby added that strong winds in the area had not helped the situation as the flames blew towards the houses.
He said: “It was a massive wildfire and now people’s houses are burning, teams are trying to fix it, but this wind is not helping anyone.”