BBC - Hereford and Worcester Features - Worcestershire Beacon fire

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Saturday 22nd March 2003
Firefighters battle Beacon blaze

Fire on Worcestershire Beacon

The Malvern Hills have been ablaze again.

See a picture gallery of the scene of the fire.

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Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade
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FACTS

Around 75 firefighters have been dealing with a blaze on the Malvern Hills this weekend

It broke out shortly before 3pm on Saturday afternoon below the Worcestershire Beacon

Firefighters had to call for re-inforcements as crews struggled to bring the flames under control

More than five hectares of hillside have been affected

A paraglider hovering over the smoke from that fire later had to be rescued from The Hills after he got into difficulties and crashed

The twenty year old was flown to Worcester Royal Infirmary by the Worcestershire air ambulance helicopter

Check out our picture gallery of the Malvern Hills fire

The fire broke out just before 3pm on Saturday 22nd of March on the east side of the Worcestershire Beacon, parallel with the Wyche Road.

The flames, which were fanned by a strong breeze and dry sunny weather, quickly spread.

It took eight firecrews, (including ones from Malvern, Worcester, Droitwich, Pershore, Upton, Bromyard and Ledbury) more than 3 hours to bring the blaze under control.

The hills were busy with walkers when the fire broke out.

The Wyche Road from Wells Road was closed by police whilst emergency services tackled the blaze.

The smoke billowed westward over the hills into Herefordshire and could be seen several miles away.

More than 5 hectares of hillside was destroyed.

A paraglider, who crashed after being caught in the plume of smoke, was airlifted to hospital, but he’s not thought to have been seriously injured.

The cause of the fire isn’t known.

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