Huge blaze engulfs beach on Christmas Eve with orange glow seen miles away
A huge fire broke out along the Northumberland Coast on Christmas Eve, casting an orange glow seen by locals five miles away.
Fire crews were dispatched to an area of the beach known locally as Bracken Hill northeast of Alnmouth, a coastal village of fewer than 450 people.
Footage showed the trail of fire coursing up the hill, while the strong winds left by Storm Pia earlier this week blew thick plumes of grey smoke.
Residents said on social media that the flames spread from the hill to Foxton, near the village’s golf course, and just north of Alnmouth Community Rowing Club.
Claire Dobson, a community care worker who lives in the nearby town of Haltwhistle, posted a photo on the For the Love of Northumberland UK Facebook group showing the trees and vegetation on the beachside in flames.
Viv Thompson commented: ‘I love Alnmouth such a lovely village, however, I’m glad no one is hurt or fatalities. The moorland will regrow but sadly the little creatures hibernating won’t.’
One local travelling north from the village of Warkworth said they could see the inferno almost five miles away, ITV News reported.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service asked people to avoid the area and surrounding roads.
‘We are currently in attendance at a fire at Alnmouth beach, with four appliances and a fogging unit,’ fire officials said earlier that evening.
‘Please avoid the area and surrounding roads at this time.’
At about 8pm, the county fire service confirmed crews had left the scene ‘but will continue to monitor any hotspots through this evening’.
The cause of the fire is unclear.
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