Firefighters are currently working to extinguish a large blaze on the sand dunes in Southport.
Large flames could be seen rising up in the air around 6pm, with local residents able to see the fire from some distance away. Fire crews were quickly in attendance.
Police closed the Coastal Road as a safety measure.
The incident is expected to take a number of hours to tackle, before the area is damped down.
One local resident said: “We look out over Hillside Golf Course then Royal Birkdale so I am guessing it is towards the Weld Road end of the Coastal Road. The Fire Brigade said they are aware and have been there since 6pm. At first I thought the light was a pretty sunset!”
Firefighters have been working to extinguish a fire on the sand dunes in Southport on Monday, April 20, 2020
It is not yet known how the fire started, although another wildfire was reported in the Ainsdale area of the sand dunes on Saturday.
People have been urged to stay away from the dunes and the coastal area since the coronavirus outbreak began in March.
People are instead urged to try to take any exercise within walking distance of their homes.
Firefighters in the region have unfortunately had to deal with other wildfires in recent days.
On Friday, Two fire engines and the wildfire burn team from Bacup and Rawtenstall along with the aerial support unit attended a wildfire involving approximately 4km of moorland on Deansgreave Road in Bacup. Firefighters used a Hagglund vehicle, beaters and blowers to extinguish the fire.
Yesterday, Firefighters from Skelmersdale were called to reports of a fire on Tower Hill Road, Up Holland. The fire involved a portion of grassland approximately 50m by 5m which crews quickly extinguished using a hose reel. Firefighters were in attendance for approximately 30 minutes.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Merseyside Police will be keen to hear from anyone with any information on the fire. Please call 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
