A spate of large fires in dry woodland is putting people’s lives and property at risk, firefighters have warned.

Epsom fire station issued the warning after being called out to “about five” fires in Nonsuch Park on the Epsom-Cheam border last week, and other fires on Epsom Common and London Road recreation ground on Sunday afternoon.

Each fire had several points of origin, which suggests they were started deliberately, firefighters said.

Your Local Guardian:
The damage left by the fire at Nonsuch Park yesterday evening. Pic credit: @Sally_Bridge

Watch commander Gareth Arnold warned that fires in dry woodland could spread more easily as temperatures increase and that crews being called to “stupid” fires diverted resources away from more serious or dangerous calls.

“It's just a stupid thing to do,” he said.

“It’s a large, wooded area, and it’s so dry out there, that it spreads.

“It takes up a lot of resources and puts lives and property at risk.”

The crew were called out to Epsom Common at about 4pm on Sunday, April 9, to Nonsuch Park at about 8pm and then to London Road recreation ground in Ewell at about 8.40pm later that evening.

Your Local Guardian:
Firefighters tackling the blaze on Epsom Common yesterday afternoon. Pic credit: @Ghazal_Diani

Ghazal Diani, who was walking on Epsom Common at the time and called the fire brigade, said the fire was “about 100 metres wide”. She added: “The firemen did an excellent job at stopping it spread.”

Watch commander Arnold said it was “lucky” that a dog walker had come across the fire last night. He added that the crew had been called to Nonsuch Park several times last week and that he had made the police aware of the fires.

Surrey Police is investigating the fires on Sunday, April 9.

To offer information, call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference number P17084333 for the 4pm fire in Epsom Common, and crime reference number 45170037220 for the 8.40pm fire in London Road recreation ground.

Have you seen any of the other fires? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk