Fire crews were called to the scene of a large blaze by the mouth of the Sandwich estuary and the nature reserve/bird sanctuary this evening (May 8).
The fire, which was spreading, was visible from Cliffsend. Kent Fire and Rescue say it was not inside the bird observatory area.
There were three fire engines and a specialist all terrain vehicle at the scene. Ambulance crews also attended.
Emergency services used Princes Golf Club car park as a command centre. A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “KFRS was called to Sandwich Bay at 8:42pm to report of grass and undergrowth alight.
“Three fire engines and an all-terrain vehicle attended, and crews extinguished the fire which was approximately 100m x 20m in size. There were no reported casualties and the fire is believed to have started after a small bonfire became out of control.”
Crews left the scene at 11.06pm.
However, a witness at the scene says a 32-year-old Ramsgate man was found at the site suffering with a suspected broken leg and was taken to hospital. The witness, who drove the injured man’s friend back to Ramsgate, said: “He and his friend were on their way back from Sandwich and got lost.
“They could see the garage at Cliffsend and were trying to get back to that. He fell, broke his leg and then started sinking in the mud. His friend started the fire to try and keep him warm. It got out of hand.”
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “Ambulance crews were called a little earlier (around 7.30pm) to reports of a person with a leg injury. Ambulance crews attended Sandwich Bay and one person was assessed and treated before being taken to William Harvey Hospital.”
UPDATE: Wildlife Conservation in Thanet checked the area today (May 9) and said the burnt area is around 100m long. They added: “It is a restricted area, and part of a very important nature reserve. It is home to ancient dune pastures, invertebrates and nesting birds.
“Although the damage is not as bad as I thought, it will affect all the invertebrates and birds, including the nests.”
