Firefighters from 12 stations across three counties are battling a major wildfire at Holt Heath near Wimborne that has forced the evacuation of around 20 homes and sent a massive smoke plume visible eight miles away.
The blaze, which broke out at approximately 11:10 BST on Friday, has been declared a major incident by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as crews struggle to contain the “fast-moving” fire being accelerated by strong winds. Emergency services have closed Holt Road at the junction with Higher Road and in Holt Heath village as firefighters work to prevent the flames spreading to residential areas.
Fire officials issued an urgent warning after spotting members of the public standing dangerously close to the flames attempting to film the dramatic scenes. “This fire is moving quickly and they could easily get caught out if they are too close and the fire spreads towards them,” a spokesperson said.
The massive smoke column could be seen from as far away as Tarrant Rushton Airfield, Poole Harbour, Bournemouth town centre and Studland, prompting hundreds of concerned calls to emergency services. Residents across the region have been urged to keep windows and doors closed due to the heavy smoke.
A fire service spokesperson confirmed: “We currently have 14 fire appliances in attendance. Firefighters are working hard to try and stop the spread of the fire which is being accelerated by the wind.”
Initial crews from Wimborne, Ferndown, Verwood and Wareham were quickly overwhelmed by the scale of the blaze, which covered an area measuring approximately 100 metres by 500 metres. Additional support was called in from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Devon & Somerset, bringing the total response to 12 different stations.
The Holt Heath fire comes as crews continue battling a separate devastating blaze at Newton Heath that has been burning for over a week. That fire, which authorities believe was started deliberately, has destroyed an area equivalent to 35 football pitches despite the efforts of 37 different stations.
Friday saw approximately 55 firefighters at the Newton Heath scene, with crews from as far afield as Charmouth in West Dorset, Trowbridge in Wiltshire, and multiple Hampshire stations. The fire has now consumed approximately 25 hectares of forest and heathland, according to official reports.
An arrest has been made by Dorset Police in connection with the Newton Heath fire, which began in the early hours of Sunday 3 August. Fire officials confirmed: “We believe the cause to be deliberate and we are working with Dorset Police to investigate.”
The weekend of 2-3 August saw multiple fires across Purbeck heathland, with four separate blazes reported within hours of each other at Newton Heath, Decoy Heath, Middlebere Heath and a smaller fire at Gore Heath. All are believed to have been started deliberately.
Dorset Police detectives are investigating what appears to be a coordinated arson attack across the region’s protected heathland. The fires have devastated local wildlife habitats and stretched emergency services to their limits.
Group Manager Graham Kewley from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said conditions remain extremely dangerous. “An amber wildfire alert is still in place and conditions remain very dry, so please take care and if you see anything suspicious while out and about, please report it to Crimestoppers.”
The service has deployed specialist equipment including Unimog all-terrain vehicles, lightweight off-road appliances, water carriers and high-volume pumps to tackle the challenging terrain. Drone teams from Wessex Rescue have been assisting firefighters in mapping the fire’s spread.
At Newton Heath, underground peat fires have proved particularly challenging, with hotspots continuing to flare up days after the initial blaze. Crews have been using main lines, hose reel jets and beaters in a desperate attempt to prevent further spread.
The ecological impact is severe, with the fires destroying protected heathland that provides habitat for rare species including sand lizards, smooth snakes and ground-nesting birds. Natural England has expressed grave concern about the long-term environmental damage.
Fire officials have emphasised the extreme danger posed by wildfires, warning that developed fires create their own wind systems that can drive flames faster than people can escape. “Seemingly extinguished fires can continue burning underground for days before resurfacing,” a spokesperson explained.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity in the Dorset heathland areas is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or call 999 in an emergency.
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