Coastguard Rescue Mission Inadvertently Starts Bradda Head Fire

Malfunctioning Flare Starts Fire On Bradda Head

The cause of the fire on Bradda Head last night has been identified as being the result of a coastguard rescue attempt gone awry.

A walker had alerted the Port Erin Lifeboat team to possible cries for help coming from the foot of Bradda Head.

Whilst searching the area they set off a number of parachute flares, one of them malfunctioned and failed to burn out in time before landing in an area of vegetation and setting it alight.

5 fire crews attended the scene on Bradda Head, as that drama was unfolding the lifeboat teams continued their search, but could find no one.

It’s now believed that what were thought to be cries for help could have come from seals on the rocks below.

The fire eventually burnt itself out and the damage was restricted to an area of 100 metres by 100 metres.