A woman has described the frightening moment she woke to a ‘burning smell’ and immediately panicked thinking her house was on fire.

She dashed from room to room desperate to discover the source of the fire but was unable to find anything.

Eventually she stuck her head out of the window and saw large dark plumes of smoke hanging in the air.

They had drifted from Salisbury Plain, around 40 miles away from where she lives in Coxley Wick, near Wells.

Melanie Earl Lavender described the whole ordeal in vivid detail, saying: “On Wednesday morning (July 11) at 4am I was woken up from a deep sleep, but I did not know why. I got a glass of water and immediately I could smell burning.

“I rushed around the house from room to room trying to find out where it was coming from? I could not detect anything sinister at all, so I hung my head out of the bedroom window and I could see dark plumes hanging in the air. I couldn't see flames.

“I then assumed a few things like Castle Cary landfill on fire again and was being doused with water as before, or someone deciding to have an early morning bonfire, or a barn fire.

Residents were advised to keep their windows and doors shut if they could smell the smoke
Residents were advised to keep their windows and doors shut if they could smell the smoke

“But curiously there were no sirens or engines rumbling in the distance. So I went back to bed, but my eyes were burning and itching, I was coughing and spluttering and cursing who ever was being insensitive and downright ignorant.”

It was in fact the result of military exercises taking place on Salisbury Plain. Live fire training was taking place and had caused a fire on the Plain.

Due to a westward wind the smoke had drifted across much of West Wiltshire and North East Somerset even affecting the city of Bath.

At this point, however, Ms Lavender was unaware of the cause.

The fire service reported numerous call-outs after the smoke from Salisbury Plain spread
The fire service reported numerous call-outs after the smoke from Salisbury Plain spread

She said: “Obviously Grenfell Tower is still on my mind and so I was inwardly panicking that a fire was somewhere close and frustrated that I could not trace its exact location.

“All the time thinking sooner or later all hell is going to break loose when the services are alerted and aware there is s huge fire somewhere close.

“Eventually I got back off to sleep, assuming the wind had changed direction; but later that following morning I could still smell it lingering in the air, as it was going to be another scorcher of a day I decided to take my dog for an early morning walk, and to see if I could detect more of what was going on.

“I bumped into several neighbours who all seemed to have their own theories. I scoured the news for explanations but drew a blank.

“I watched the England game later that evening and went to bed as normal. When I awoke again this morning and pulled the curtains back, I could still smell it, and see wisps of smoke hanging in the air.

“Someone has got a lot of garden waste to burn, and how stupid when the weather has been so hot and everything so bone dry.”

The Ministry of Defence decided to stop live fire training on Salisbury Plain after the smoke spread (July 12)
The Ministry of Defence decided to stop live fire training on Salisbury Plain after the smoke spread (July 12)

After hours of wondering what was going, Ms Lavender eventually found an answer from a local news source.

She said: “I checked into Facebook this morning and there was the Somerset Live report that a friend in Frome had shared.

“I was quite gobsmacked to realise that we could smell it over in Wells. It is actually really unpleasant and equally unpleasant shuttling all the windows and doors and I don't know which is worse at present.”

Ms Lavender had read a report explaining that the large smoke plumes had drifted across Somerset from Salisbury Plain.

The Ministry of Defence has since said that is carefully monitoring the situation, but this has done little to alleviate the tensions of those affected.

The smoke from Salisbury Plain spread across West Wiltshire and North East Somerset
The smoke from Salisbury Plain spread across West Wiltshire and North East Somerset

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Control room received dozens of 999 calls on Wednesday night (July 11 to 12) and firefighters were mobilised multiple times to incidents where alarm systems were triggered by the smoke.

Hannah Dench, from Trowbridge, actually drove through Salisbury Plain at around 3pm yesterday (July 12).

Describing the smoke, she said: “It looked like two massive fire's are burning. We live in Trowbridge and the smoke was horrendous all last night right up to around 6am .

“The smell was choking at times. It made your eyes water and the back of your throat sore.

“You couldn't see a clear view it was like the effect of one of those old London smoggy street s in 1800s.

“Just bloody awful.”

The fire service announced yesterday that it was unable to tackle the blaze as it is within a Ministry of Defence restriction zone.

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said yesterday (July 12): “Unfortunately, because the fire itself is within the live firing range, the Service is unable to tackle the blaze.

“Over the last two weeks, crews have been called to the Shrewton and Market Lavington areas to prevent the flames from spreading outside of the impact area, but it is unsafe for them to access the main fire.

“It also can’t be accessed by aircraft carrying water, due to the safety restrictions of the impact zone.”

What should you do if you smell smoke?

Several towns are reportedly covered in the smoke which has drifted from Salisbury Plain

Public Health England has advised: “Residents in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors, and keep their doors and windows closed. Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed and switch on air conditioning systems to recycle or recirculate air. If people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.”

They added: “Smoke can irritate air passages, the skin and the eyes, leading to coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. It can also worsen existing problems such as asthma and people with asthma should carry their inhaler with them at all times. Anyone concerned about their symptoms should contact NHS 111.”

The MOD has advised that live firing on Salisbury Plain has been stopped until further notice.

The Ministry of Defence has also come forward to offer some information on the fire.

A spokesman said: “The fire is well within the impact zone, we have fire wardens monitoring the site and, if the flames start to spread outside of that area, we can bring in the Fire and Rescue Service to assist.

“We fully appreciate the inconvenience caused to the communities in and around the Plain. The fire itself is not a risk to property, but we do recognise that the smoke is very unpleasant.”

“The MOD takes the safety of our military personnel and the public seriously and we would like to reassure local residents and others that we are doing everything possible to reduce the risks. We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates.”

The smoke from Salisbury Plain over Frome this morning (July 12)
The smoke from Salisbury Plain over Frome yesterday (July 12)

Did you see the smoke? Let us know. Get in touch using james.wood@reachplc.com, call 07870 505 906 or tweet me @JamesWood24

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