Four fire crews sent to Cannock Chase after latest arson attack
Grassland almost the size of a football pitch was on fire after the latest arson attack at Cannock Chase.
Firefighters from Cannock, Rugeley, and Chase Terrace were sent to the blaze on the Monkey Trail shortly before 8pm on Monday.
Grass and heathland around 100m x 30m wide was involved in the blaze on Moors Gorse off Rugeley Road and a fence was damaged but noone was injured.
Crews used main jets, hose-reel jets and beaters to extinguish the flames, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said.
Staffordshire Police's Rural and Wildlife Crime Unit is now appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Officers were called to a report of a fire by colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service on Cannock Chase, near Rugeley Road, at around 8.23pm last night.
"The fire is believed to have been started deliberately and an investigation is underway.
"A fence was damaged. No one was injured.
"Anyone with information is asked to message Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter or call 101 quoting incident number 686 of May 4."
There has been a spate of deliberate fires on Cannock Chase since the coronavirus lockdown began as well as several accidental blazes in last month's warm weather.
Staffordshire firefighters were sent to 156 deliberate fires between March 23 and April 23, with 19 of these taking place on the Chase.
