Emergency services are tackling a large fire on Mousehold Heath.

Emergency services took almost four hours to bring three fires on Mousehold Heath under control after witnesses reported seeing 'a big ball of smoke'.

Four fire engines from Carrow, Sprowston, Hethersett and Earlham, 20 personnel and a water carrier attended the blaze which was reported at 4.20pm on July 2, however by 6.30pm just one engine was left with the water carrier.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue service teams arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the fire was reported, and left at 8pm.

Eastern Daily Press: Large amounts of smoke seen coming off Mousehold Heath. PHOTO: Danny RogersLarge amounts of smoke seen coming off Mousehold Heath. PHOTO: Danny Rogers (Image: Archant)

The largest fire was near Zak's Diner and Mousehold Heath public car park on Gurney Road, which was around 500 square metres. The other two were close by.

Stefan Rider, Earlham station manager, said: 'I don't have any idea about the source of this fire but what I do have is three separate areas of fire.

'In one of those areas there appears to be a camp fire, so we would like to take this opportunity to remind people because it's particularly dry at the moment.

Eastern Daily Press: Smoke visible from a fire at Mousehold Heath. PHOTO: Sophie SmithSmoke visible from a fire at Mousehold Heath. PHOTO: Sophie Smith (Image: Archant)

'We would like them all to be extra careful in terms of not having camp fires, being extra careful with cigarettes and to be particularly vigilant on areas such as Mousehold Heath.

'I couldn't say if they are connected. We got called to one but we have found another two since we arrived.

'On this occasion thanks to the hard work of the crews we've got here we've managed to stop it spreading beyond 500 metres but obviously again because the weather is so dry the whole heath is at risk if people aren't careful.'

Eastern Daily Press: Mousehold Heath seems to be smoking. PHOTO: Jamie WrightMousehold Heath seems to be smoking. PHOTO: Jamie Wright (Image: Archant)

Mousehold Heath is a 184-acre area made up of heathland, woodland and open space in the north of Norwich, which is also a popular location for dog-walkers.

Smoke from the fire was visible from Norwich city centre, drawing attention on social media.

Stephanie Holmes and Roy Doggett, from Sprowston, reported the fire.

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Mr Doggett said: 'We were down near Zak's and we rang about 4.20pm and walked up through the trees.

'We could just see a big ball of smoke. We asked a few people who said no one had rung.

'We saw the fire and it was reaching right up as tall as the trees.'

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First Bus's 23/23A service was disrupted by the closure of the A1042 Heartsease Lane both ways at the crossroads by Mousehold Heath.

Check our live traffic map before you travel

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eastern Daily Press: Fire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire fighters tackle the fire at Mousehold Heath. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

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