A huge wildfire on the land behind Buckley Hill in Thornton lit up the sky last night

A huge wildfire on the land behind Buckley Hill in Thornton lit the sky in a terrifying manor. Flames soared into the night sky right across the horizon.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue received numerous 999 calls from 9:35pm last night, Tuesday 16th August.

Nine minutes later two fire engines from Kirkby and another from Buckley Hill which was not in the area, arrived at the scene and found a large part of the field well alight.

A spokesperson from Merseyside Fire & Rescue said: “We were called to a field just off Buckley Hill Road at 9.35pm, with two fire engines arriving around nine minutes later. We have one appliance from Kirkby and another from Buckley Hill, which was in another area at the time of the call.

No other emergency services are in attendence and work to put out the fire is ongoing.”

The fire was virtually out by 12 midnight. Edge Lane remained closed northbound whilst firefighters inspected the field. Crews and fire engines remain in the field as they dampen the ground down.

The fire broke out on a large part of the field behind a new build housing estate on Runnells Lane. Thankfully it did not reach the Shy Lowen Pony Sanctuary. Nobody was hurt in the fire.

The fire is now completely out and the road open but the fields are obviously severely burnt.