There were fears for the safety of an electricity substation, after a large conifer tree, at the Rope Walk, was found well alight in close proximity to it.

The fire was discovered on Sunday, August 14th, at approximately 7.40pm. Local residents and customers in the Hope and Anchor pub, who witnessed the fire, gave their accounts to the Ross Gazette.

A group had been inside the pub, waiting for a quiz to begin. Outside the window, they believed they could see snow, and upon closer inspection, they discovered it was ash.

They then heard a large ‘Whoosh’ sound, which they described as similar to the noise a hot air balloon makes, and they saw the fire quickly climb to reach the top of the tree.

One of the eyewitnesses alleged that they saw fire lighters underneath the tree.

Ross-on-Wye fire crew were called to the scene. They extinguished the fire with a hose reel jet, but remained at the scene to ensure that sparks did not cause a second fire.