Heath fire started deliberately, fire service says

11 August 2025

Emily FordBBC News, South of England

News image — More than 100 firefighters have been fighting the blaze since Saturday

Axminster Fire Station The silohouette of a firefighter tackling a live fire. He stands on a mound of dirt to the right of the image, holding a water hose, which is spraying water over gorse and hedging fully alight on the ground and a large flame rising up to the sky to the left of the image. — More than 100 firefighters have been fighting the blaze since Saturday

Firefighters working in "arduous conditions" as they tackle a large heath fire in Dorset have said they believe it was started deliberately.

A major incident was declared due to the size of the blaze at Holt Heath, near Wimborne, which broke out at about 11:10 BST on Saturday.

More than 100 firefighters from across the south have worked to tackle the fast-moving fire, which has burnt about 69 hectares (170 acres) of land.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) confirmed to a BBC reporter at the scene that it believed the blaze was ignited on purpose.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service An aerial view of the fire shows an expanse of green fields with a line of fire and huge plumes of white smoke wafting up into the sky. In the left corner of the image, there is a plot of land which has some farm buildings on it, surrounded by green hedging. — A spokesperson for the fire service said it was "highly likely" crews would be there the rest of the week

It said crews were waiting for specialist support while they monitored multiple hotspots.

People were forced to leave their homes on Saturday when the fire broke out but have since been able to return.

Residents are being advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

An update from the service said: "Firefighters continue to work in arduous conditions and have surrounded the fire, although there are still multiple hotspots and flare ups that need to be tackled."

A spokesperson said it was "highly likely" crews would remain on scene for the rest of the week.

Lewis Johnstone Photography Firefighter standing in a road to the right side orange and red flames can be seen in the trees and white smoke flowing up into the sky seen — Specialist support is expected to arrive at Holt Heath to help crews manage multiple hotspots

Crews from stations in Devon and Somerset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire have all been assisting with the incident.

DWFRS added: "On Monday morning, we are expecting appliances and specialist support from other parts of the country, thanks to help from the National Resilience Assurance Team."

The service has also been tackling a heath and forest fire at Newton Heath, near Swanage, that has been burning for a week.

The fire, between Corfe Castle and Swanage, has destroyed an area about the size of 35 football pitches since it broke out last Sunday.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service A fire engine is driving through a section of heathland. The fire engine is red with some bright yellow and white markings. There are hints of smoke wafting from some of the hedging as the vehicle drives past. The land looks mostly green with grass and hedging and there are some trees dotted across the land in the distance. — Local supermarkets, charities and residents have been delivering food and water to firefighters on site

The blaze at both Newton Heath is also believed to have been started deliberately.

The fire service gave "a huge thank you" to local supermarkets and independent food companies and charities for donating food and water, as well as "the many local residents who have dropped off donations".

It added: "We've had lots of offers to deliver food and drink to fire stations but we would ask for this not to happen as there may not be anyone available to take delivery.

"We are extremely grateful for the support and all the kind messages we have received."

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