Rail services through the Burnham-On-Sea area were disrupted on Monday afternoon (June 28th) after sparks from a passing steam train caused THREE line-side grass fires.
A fire crew from Burnham was called to Middle Street in Brent Knoll at around 3.30pm – as pictured here – to extinguish the first of three blazes, which quickly spread in the dry undergrowth.
The steam train, which was travelling from Penzance to Bristol, also left two other track-side grass fires in its wake – at Accommodation Road in Lympsham and at New Road in West Hunstpill.
Burnham fire officer Dick Solomon told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It was a very busy afternoon for us, with three separate track-side fires in the Burnham area and several others across the West Country.”
In each case, fire crews used a hose reel jet to damp down the areas, along with fire beaters to fully bring the blazes under control.
Local resident Lester Solway told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The fire seemed to be started by a double-headed steam engine which was returning from Penzance to Bristol.”
Train services were delayed for over an hour while the fire brigade dealt with the two incidents. They returned to normal later in the day.
