Dartford fires: Crews tackle two large field blazes
@ledcafcFirefighters have been tackling two large field fires in north Kent.
Eighteen engines were called out near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green, Dartford, at 11:50 BST.
Crews from another 12 engines tackled a blaze on Dartford Heath beside the A2 and firefighters will continue at the scene overnight.
They were deployed at 12:35 and used jets to tackle the fire, involving areas of undergrowth and trees. No casualties have been reported.
Motorists on the A2 were urged to drive with extra care due to drifting smoke.
On Tuesday evening, a Kent Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "People driving on the A2 and nearby roads are advised to take care, due to smoke coming from the incident, which may impact visibility."
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Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky for miles at the height of the blaze.
The incident was scaled down to four fire engines after 20:00 BST and firefighters were composing a plan to prevent the blaze spreading overnight.
In Joyce Green, where a blaze broke out on the marshland, firefighters used a fogging unit, two all-terrain vehicles and a bulk water carrier to bring the fire under control and extinguish the flames.
No residential buildings were affected, the fire service said.
People living and working nearby were advised to close doors and windows and drivers asked to take care in the smoke.
At 21:00 BST, the Joyce Green fire was still ongoing but was scaled down to six fire engines overnight.
The fire service said two other separate large grass fire incidents were also ongoing in the area.
At the scene
By Harry Low, BBC News
You can smell it in the air, you can see it in the skyline - and the sweat-soaked shirts of the firefighters bear testament to their hard work.
Eighteen fire engines were sent to this part of Dartford alone.
It's swelteringly hot - temperatures reaching 37C - and those warm winds we've experienced all day have hampered efforts to douse the flames in north Kent.
These fires are both a symptom of the heatwave and a contributing factor to these unprecedented conditions.
At Spirits Rest animal sanctuary, they put a call out for help earlier - and the community responded.
People rallied round, offering to rescue animals on the brink of danger. The good news is chickens, rabbits, cats and 12 horses were helped to safety.
Adrian Stirrup/Press AssociationThe cause of the fires are not yet known but temperatures have exceeded 37C (98.6F) in the area.
Earlier, two fire engines put out a crop fire in Shirehall Road in Dartford.
No casualties were reported and the cause was believed to be accidental.
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