Wimborne fire forces evacuations as crews battle major Dorset heath blazes

A major incident has been declared in Dorset after a large heath fire near Wimborne forced the evacuation of 20 homes. The blaze at Holt Heath, just outside the town, broke out shortly after 11am and has drawn more than 100 firefighters to the scene. Strong winds are driving the flames across the dry heathland, which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its rare wildlife and habitat.

The incident coincides with a separate fire at Newton Heath near Swanage, which has been burning since last Sunday. Covering an area the size of 35 football pitches, it is believed to have been started deliberately.

Assistant chief fire officer Darren Langdown, from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the decision to declare a major incident was due to the combined strain of both blazes.

“We have declared a major incident both due to the size of the fire at Holt Heath, and also the impact of this and Newton Heath on our overall availability of resources,”

he said.

Residents near Holt Heath have been told to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke drifting over the area, while roads have been closed at the junction of Holt Road and Higher Road, as well as in Holt Heath village near the pub.

Crews from Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Devon & Somerset have joined the response. Mr Langdown praised their efforts, saying he was “extremely grateful” for their support and commended teams for “working so hard in extremely arduous conditions to bring these fires under control.”

The cause of the Holt Heath fire is not yet known. Fire crews have urged the public to stay away from the affected areas and advised photographers not to fly drones nearby, as they can interfere with aerial firefighting operations.

In another recent case, firefighters in the New Forest tackled a large heath blaze that also required support from neighbouring counties. Both incidents highlight the wildfire risk to southern England’s heathlands, which conservationists warn could increase without careful management and public awareness, as promoted by Dorset Wildlife Trust’s heathland protection projects.

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[Image Credit | John Parsons]

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