Updated: 21:52, 19 July 2022 Firefighters are battling a large blaze near Swaffham, where several houses have caught fire. Crews were called to the fire in a field behind The Oaks in Ashill at around 5pm, where around 15 engines are at the scene. The blaze quickly spread through the center of the village to The Green by the duck pond, where houses can be seen on fire, with all roads into Ashill currently closed. Firefighters are battling the blaze at Ashill near Swaffham. – Credit: conranphotography.net Other homes near the fire have been evacuated. It is estimated that no one was injured in the fire. Tears of fire in houses in Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net Will Conran, who lives nearby, said many parts of the village were still burning, hours after the fire started. Firefighters are battling the blaze at Ashill near Swaffham. – Credit: conranphotography.net He said: “There is an awful lot of activity here even hours later. “It came from a field of wheat and it has spread to different properties, it has gone a long way. “A lot of houses are burning down and some of them had just been modernized, you can see the builder’s equipment in the gardens. Firefighters are battling the blaze at Ashill near Swaffham. – Credit: conranphotography.net “People are devastated, there’s smoke everywhere and the police are giving people masks because it’s black smoke, coughing and wheezing. Tears of fire in houses in Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net “Firefighters are still arriving at the scene and police have described it as a serious incident.” Local residents said they were shocked at how quickly the fire reached the center of the village. Houses are currently burning in Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net A woman who lives in the area, who did not want to be named, said: “He was causing carnage, he started in the field behind the houses and quickly closed in. “I hope everyone in these homes is okay.” Fire crews are battling the blaze in Ashill. – Credit: conranphotography.net A man who lives nearby added that strong winds in the area did not help the situation, blowing the flames towards the houses. He said: “It was a huge fire and now people’s houses are burning, crews are trying to tackle it but this wind is not helping anyone.”
