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Quick-thinking islanders managed to prevent a rapidly growing vegetation fire from seriously escalating last night by tackling it with garden hoses.
The blaze broke out in St. Ouen around 20:00, and multiple 999 calls were made to the Fire Service reporting "a large open land fire threatening property in St Ouen".
Three engines and a water carrier were sent down, with crews faced with a 1,000m2 vegetation fire when they arrived.
"Members of the public from neighbouring properties had begun attacking the fire with domestic hoses and prevented this incident escalating any further," officers explained.
"The fire was quickly bought under control and crews remained on scene damping down until 22:30."
It comes less than a week after a major furze fire at La Pulente left people living in the area fearing for their homes.
The blaze was so large that it could be seen from the sky.
Martha Bernstein, who lives nearby, told Express of she and her husband's fear as the flames began coming towards them.
Pictured: The view from Martha's house as the fire approached.
Recalling how even her dogs were "shaking", she said: "...We just didn't know what to do. I was saying to my husband: 'Should we be packing our valuables into the car? Or getting ready to evacuate?'
"Eventually we decided to water the land boundaries around our house to try and slow the spread of the fire in case it did eventually get to us. Thankfully, the fire service managed to stop the blaze before it reached the field next to our house."
The Fire Service has since warned against barbecue use during this period of dry weather, and some supermarkets have stopped stocking them.
Pictured: The fire left the ground around Martha's house scorched.
After last night's blaze, they cautioned: "We would like to remind the public that this sustained period of dry weather means the likelihood of an open land fire is dramatically increased.
"The lighting of fires should be avoided and always consider the possibility of the fire spreading."
IN PICTURES: Investigation opened into major headland fire
Pictured top: Last night's wildfire in St. Ouen. (JFRS)
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