I was just preparing dinner, and OH was in the copse down the lane walking the dog when I smelt burning. Looked out the window and there was a huge cloud of billowing smoke, not 100 yards away, in the copse. I could hear it crackling, and everyone was rushing down our little close to the lane. Huge fire, really scary, but thank goodness, OH had gone the opposite direction. Two fire engines came and got it under control quite quickly. Our house stinks, as of course we had all the windows open, and there's ash on our bedroom floor. I dread to think what the woods will look like - a damn shame, and someone said they saw 3 girls running away from the small fire, before it took hold. Very lucky it didn't spread more, as its tinder dry. It was a beautiful clear evening, and you couldnt see the sky for smoke


