A considerable part of Hampshire’s farmland is left burning after heavily burning crop fields near Winchester.
Approximately 6 hectares (15 acres) of standing crops were affected by the flames that took place on Wednesday, July 16th.
Firefighters from Eastleigh, Redbridge, St. Mary’s, Fairham, Aresford, Heighttown and Beaulieu were dispatched to tackle the flames of the field off Hasley’s main road.
In a statement, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said:
?? Will Wildfire destroy Hazley’s crops?
About six hectares of crops were lost in the field fire this afternoon. The swift action by the crew stopped it from spreading.
Stay safe in the countryside:
? There is no BBQ
??Do not remove cigarettes
??? I’ll take the garbage home
??No campfire pic.twitter.com/0tlxxtqqbh– Hampshire & Island Wightfire & Rescue Service (@hantsiow_fire) July 16, 2025
“When the fire was surrounded and disappeared, the incident was reduced and the rest of the crew attenuated the hotspot.”
The incident comes as the countryside has become increasingly vulnerable over the long term hot, dry weather amid growing concern over the rising numbers of wildfires across the UK.
Fires can quickly fire and expand, pose a serious threat not only to farmlands but also to surrounding homes and communities.
With drought conditions formally confirmed in much of the UK, the NFU is urging the government to take immediate action to protect farms, food supplies and rural communities.
The union warned that the effects of extreme weather put a great pressure on agriculture’s resilience.
“While farmers are taking precautions to prevent and manage the outbreak of fires,” the NFU said, “There is an urgent need to increase support from the government, fire services and local governments.”
In 2025 alone, the National Fire Chiefs’ Council recorded over 500 wildfires. At the same time, NFU Mutual figures show that farm fires continue to increase in financial fees, with costs reaching £110 million in 2023, up 37% the previous year.
