1 week Ago
Around 80 firefighters rushed to Upton Heath shortly before midnight following multiple reports of a fire from members of the public at 11.44pm. The fire affected an area of around 300m x 500m.
LIVE: Huge fires on Upton Heath and Canford Heath overnight Fire crews from Poole, Hamworthy, Swanage, Sturminster Newton, Westbourne, Redhill Park, Wimborne, Wareham, Christchurch, Shaftesbury, Ferndown, Bere Regis, Bridport, Trowbridge and Stratton attended. In an update at 5am, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This has been hard work in dark and arduous conditions, and we now believe the fire to be contained. “At this stage, we don't know what caused the fire to start, but an investigation will take place once it's daylight and the fire is fully under control.
” Just hours later, a second fire was reported on Canford Heath with the fire service receiving “multiple” 999 calls at 5.25am on Thursday morning, April 3. Fire crews from Springbourne, Wimborne, Cranborne, Trowbridge, Beaminster, Wareham, Shaftesbury, Swanage, Christchurch and Bere Regis all attended.
The blaze involved an area of heath around 500m x 50m. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said many of the crews had been working through the night at the fire on Upton Heath. Fire crews accessed the site via Canford Heath Road and Francis Avenue.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown with investigations due to take place today. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said this morning: "At 7am, the fire has been extinguished and work is now underway to ensure that all hot spots are dampened down. “We expect to be on scene for some time.
" A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "At 5.27am on Thursday 3 April 2025, we received a report from a member of the public of a fire at Canford Heath Nature Reserve. "We also received a further report from the fire service requesting assistance with a road closure on Canford Heath Road.
"Officers attended and left the scene at around 7.30am." The fires come after an amber wildfire warning was extended by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Firefighters tackled two fires at Moors Valley Country Park on Monday and Tuesday. Moors Valley remains closed today and the cause of the fire is under investigation..
