‘The trees and grass have all been burnt’
Communal outdoor space near Plowden Road in Hull, left blackened after a fire(Image: supplied image)
A communal green space in Hull used by residents to walk their dogs or enjoy a stroll in nature has been left charred after a fire amid the prolonged dry weather. Described as a “really lovely small field” by a local resident, a large swathe of grass and trees at its centre is now blackened and bare following the blaze which Humberside Fire & Rescue has labelled a “deliberate ignition”.
Connor, who lives close by, said the field, near Plowden Road in west Hull, was enjoyed by the local community and that he regularly saw council workers there maintaining the space. He did say that, sadly, it could sometimes be marred by litter.
“My house and a handful of others border the field and it’s generally a lovely place,” said Connor. “A lot of people walk their dog there and you regularly see people from the council there, doing maintenance and planting trees; it’s quite a nice area.
“There are bushes with berries and it’s just a nice green area. There have been incidences of fly tipping and unfortunately you do sometimes get teenagers using the area to take drugs.”
Connor said: “I take my dog on the field and on Sunday I noticed some of my neighbours were talking to a group of teenagers and asking them to leave. When I looked to one side I could see smoke and then I saw this big, black area.
“The trees and grass have all been burnt over quite a big area. Even now it still stinks of smoke.
“It’s a miracle it didn’t spread further, with all the dry grass there is and there are wooden fences nearby.” Connor said: “One of the neighbours said she had written to Emma Hardy MP and also to the council requesting community gates be put up and supplying each of us with a key, to stop people getting on there who shouldn’t be there.”
A spokesperson for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call about a fire in the open off Kempton Road in Hull at 3.15pm on Sunday, August 9. We sent one fire engine which quickly extinguished the fire within minutes of arrival.
“Approximately 50sq m of grassland was involved in the fire and the incident has been labelled as deliberate ignition.”
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