Laverstock fire: resident recalls the 'frightening' moment

Multiple fire crews were sent to the incident near Duck Lane, which was reported to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service at 6.30pm.

The blaze quickly spread to the edge of the field, near houses on Greenwood Avenue, before crews managed to extinguish it.

Four homes were evacuated and approximately three hectares of cut grass had been extinguished. By 8.58pm everyone was allowed back into the area.

Duck Lane resident Sue Gallagher's garden is next to the field that caught fire. She described the incident as "frightening", adding: "I first heard the crackling of the grass then the smell of smoke. I could see the smoke advancing on the house."

Mrs Gallagher, who has lived at Duck Lane for 44 years, smelled spoke at 6pm while she was pulling up dead weeds in her garden.

"I went upstairs and that's when I saw it. It was very scary to see the fire coming at such a rate," she added.

As the wind blew, the fire was redirected away from Mrs Gallagher's house however the smell of smoke lingered inside.

"There's a smell of smoke in every room but if that’s the worst that happened it’s not a problem."

Live footage from Mrs Gallagher's garden

Police cordoned the entrance to Duck Lane while the fire raged and officers were only letting residents in or out.

As smoke engulfed properties on Greenwood Avenue and Duck Lane, residents left their homes and congregated in the street.

The Duck Inn stayed open during the fire and offered residents a "place for a pint and reassurance".

Events manager Paula Weeks said: "We were very concerned for our neighbours, friends and customers.

"But it was a very quick response from the local fire brigade which we're grateful for."

Fire crews attended fires at Chillmark, Deptford, Winterbourne Stoke, Collingbourne Ducis and Laverstock on Tuesday.

Approximately 35 firefighters attended Winterbourne Stoke an incident involving bales and loose straw which caused a closure on the A303 from Winterbourne Stoke to Longbarrow.

Firefighters pumping water from Duck Lane by Spencer Mulholland

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to a field fire near Duck Lane, Laverstock at 6.30pm [Tuesday] evening which was attended by crews from Wilton, Wimborne, Cranborne, Salisbury and Ferndown, together with a small 4x4 appliance from Cranborne and a water carrier from Ringwood.

"Many of these were on stand-by in the Salisbury area because of local crews being committed at the Winterbourne Stoke fire.