Crews spend night on heathland after wildfire

9 hours ago

News image — Firefighters spent the night damping down to prevent reignition

DWFRS A firefighter stands on a track in a smoke-filled landscape with a fire burning in the distance. — Firefighters spent the night damping down to prevent reignition

Firefighters have spent the night at the scene of a wildfire on heathland in Dorset.

Smoke was reported at Agglestone, near Studland, at about 17:00 BST on Monday.

Crews from seven stations worked to tackle the blaze and the incident was scaled back shortly after 20:00.

A fire engine and Land Rover remained overnight with crews damping down. Relief crews are expected remain throughout Tuesday.

DWFRS Smoke rises up from the heathland and flames can be seen across a wide patch of ground — Crews worked to prevent the fire spreading due to the wind

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire affected an area about 100m by 50m with crews working to stop it spreading due to the wind.

The operation was also assisted by Dorset Police, Wessex Rescue, HM Coastguard and SWAST, along with the Studland Chain Ferry, which transported vehicles across to the peninsula.

The call came as crews were already tackling another field fire near Dorchester.

Crews from eight stations spent three hours tackling that blaze, which had spread across three large agricultural fields next to the Old Sherborne Road, near Charlton Down.

The alarm was raised at 16:45 and farmers helped by using cultivators and slurry tankers.