FIRE crews worked to extinguish a huge blaze that spread across 15 acres of land and caused ash to fall from the sky at the edge of the Forest of Dean this weekend.

The fire broke out at a field between Howle Hill and Ruardean on Saturday afternoon (August 6), burning through acres of cut straw and hay and also affecting farm machinery.

It is not thought that anyone was hurt as a result of the fire.

Firefighters from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) worked together with teams from Herefordshire for around two hours to extinguish the blaze.

Five fire engines attended, including two from Coleford, one from Cinderford, one from Ross-on-Wye and one from Whitchurch, with teams using hose reels and breathing apparatus to put the fire out.

Residents reported on social media that black ash was falling from the sky as far away as Cinderford, while others posted photos and video of several plumes of black smoke bellowing from the site.

A GFRS spokesperson said they were unable to provide any details about the cause of the fire “at this stage”.

They said: “We were called at 12.38pm on Saturday, 6 August to a fire in a field of cut straw and hay near Drybrook.

“The fire covered 15 acres and also affected a tractor and a hay baler.

“Five fire engines, two from Coleford, one from Cinderford, one from Ross-on-Wye and one from Whitchurch, used hose reels and breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire.

“The stop signal was received at 2.38pm.”