Firefighters tackled a fire that has spread across several hundred metres of tinder-dry grassland near a college in Ewell.
Four fire engines and two water carriers were called to the bushfire in a field off Reigate Road near Nescot College at 1.20pm.
Firefighter Stuart Puttock, from Leatherhead fire station, said: "At the moment they are just trying to contain it."
Although the cause of the blaze is not yet known he said the fire was almost certainly related to the heatwave and the dry grassland made it harder to contain.
He said: "At this time of year until we get rain it only takes a small spark to start it off. Once the fire is in an open area it’s hard to contain."
He said that an update at 1.45pm said the fire was still ‘well alight’.
Epsom and Ewell Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team said they were helping firefighters near LA Fitness in Banstead Road which was closed.
The team posted on Facebook: "The fire is under control. Remember to take care during the hot and dry weather."
A Nescot College employee, who had seen smoke in the distance, said: "It’s not in our neck of the woods."
An Epsom firefighter advised people not to put disposable BBQs on the common, make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and not to throw cigarettes out of car windows.
He said: "It only takes one lit cigarette on a piece of grass. With this breeze if the fire gets hold then it goes very quickly.
"If you are having a barbecue be careful of sparks. Don’t have bonfires. A lot of it comes down to common sense. It’s very hot and very dry so don’t light a fire."
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