Chasing Fire at Chasewater...

It was meant to be a peaceful trip to Chasewater, a local nature reserve. On the way I heard sirens. Behind me a fire engine was speeding along, blue lights flashing. It turned off down a side road and I thought nothing more of it until I noticed the plume of smoke.

There was a good view up on the high bridge above the toll motorway, from there I found a footpath so that I could get a closer look.

The flames were fierce, crackling loudly. I glanced into the nearby stables, but thankfully they were empty.

The fire crew still hadn't arrived and the flames were starting to spread. There wasn't much I could do to help.

The first of three fire tenders pulled into the paddock.

I was impressed out how quickly they were out with the hose and tackling the blaze, just seconds.

The initial flames were extinguished rapidly but kept on reigniting.

It took quite a bit to douse it completely. Clouds of steam and smoke engulfed the fire fighters.

They were very thorough, taking time to cool everything down as they didn't know whether there were gas canisters involved.

With the fire quelled, the crew took a brief breather. It looked from the debris to be a caravan that had been destroyed, setting fire to other equipment around it.



I never found out whether it was a deliberate fire, but locals told me there had been other fires in the area recently, so who knows...

"All Around the Wrekin", or, "The long way round"....

The Wrekin is a well known landmark hill and is easy to find despite the unhelpful signs.
At 1335 feet it is a bit of a slog, but pretending to admire the view halfway up allows you to catch your breath. It really doesn't help your self esteem, when, as you slowly puff your way ever upwards, local athletes using the climb as part of their training come bounding past like gazelles....
As I got ever higher the view unfurled itself, mist draped across the valleys.
'The Wrekin' is a corruption of the ancient English 'Uriconion', a Celtic name.
For some time after the Norman invasions it was called Mount Gilbert after a hermit that once resided on its slopes.
The summit is occupied by an iron age hill fort thought to be built by the Cornovii tribe, the same people that created the huge fort of 'Castle Ring' in Cannock Chase. The Wrekin was their capital.
To the West, the tips of the Welsh mountains poked through the low cloud.
We sat atop the sun warmed rock peak eagerly awaiting the spectical of the sunset.
I'd hoped to get a great photo of the hills, mist filled valley and perhaps the snaking glint of the meandering River Severn in the golden evening light, but the clouds rose and obscured the view.
We drank our flasked coffee and nibbled some Hazelnuts I'd roasted on a small fire.
Homeward bound, the toposcope more helpful than the local signs, we headed off....