AN OWNER of a farm near Dursley has hit out after fireworks were set off and started a fire at Crawley Hill last week. 

Kat Ives, 42, from Newbrook Farm Equestrian reported a fire on Uley Bury last Wednesday evening (August 3) to the fire service after hearing fireworks at around 9.50pm. 

She said: “We heard three loud bangs, we live on site so we ran out to check whether our horses in the fields were ok. 

“Then we noticed there was a small fire on the Bury spreading down the bank so we called for the fire brigade.

“It is incredibly frustrating to have to deal with this. 

“If we hadn't been so quick to call and the fire service so fast to attend you do question how far that could have spread. 

Kat lives with her wife, Cheralyn Willcox, and their daughter, Bryony Thomas, and the family say fires threaten them, their business and home this time of year.

“It is incredibly frustrating to have to deal with this kind of thing.

 "Fireworks being set off from Uley Bury have caused a lot of issues for us and neighbouring farms over the years", Kat said. 

“From our experience it's not always young people doing this kind of thing, we have even had big family party groups up there setting them off."

A fire crew from Dursley attended the incident and were back the next day to dampen down the area again.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 10.01pm on Wednesday about a fire on Crawley Hill in Uley. 

“One crew from Dursley attended and left the scene at 11.05pm.

“We would like to thank the member of the public for their swift action in alerting us to the fire. 

“The recent spell of hot weather combined with very little rain has meant that areas of the countryside are becoming so dry that there is a real danger of accidental wildfires. 

“These can start very easily and can be difficult to bring under control due to the speed at which they spread and the abundance of dry grass and vegetation. 

Kat says she wants to avoid other ‘unnecessary' fire-related incidents in the future.

“Used firework casings often fall into fields full of animals with no thought of what could happen", she said. 

“It could easily catch fire and we sadly hear all too often of the horror of this happening up and down the country.

“We really do not know what it is going to take for people to realise the possible ramifications of their actions.”

Shani Baker, clerk at Uley Parish Council, said: “The fire on Uley Bury is believed to have been caused by a firework and it just shows how dry the area is.

"It could have been so much worse if not for the prompt arrival of the fire service.

“Please take extra care when disposing of smoking materials.

"Ensure BBQs are completely extinguished and clear any glass as this can magnify the sun’s rays.” 

If you see a fire in the countryside or woodland, you should call 999 and give as exact a location as possible.