Location: Formby
Fire crews have been called to a significant fire in sand dunes near to Albert Road, Formby this evening. Crews were on scene at 8.00pm, with six fire engines currently in attendance.
Crews arrived to find a gorse fire around 300 by 300 metres in size with beaters and hoses in use. Connected hose lines have enabled water supplies to be established over considerable distance.
UPDATE 10.15pm
Firefighters continued to fight the fire in difficult conditions as the fire was being driven by wind and grew to 500 by 200 metres with multiple seats of fire in thick gorse bush and dunes.
Firefighters are using beaters and extended hose reels to fight the fire and the service drone has been requested to gain situational awareness from height.
A fire engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is also in attendance as part of mutual cross-border support arrangements. An MFRS off-road vehicle is in attendance to access the fire from the beach side of the incident.
The main body of fire has now been extinguished and crews are checking for hot spots.