Upton Heath fire: Firefighters rush to put out 40-acre double blaze as infernos strike popular nature reserves

Firefighters tackle blaze which engulfs electrical substation near Heathrow Airport
GB NEWS
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 03/04/2025

- 08:36

Updated: 03/04/2025

- 14:55

The first blaze broke out shortly before 11.45pm last night

Firefighters have been battling to extinguish two infernos covering more than 40 acres of heathland in Dorset.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue received a call last night after a blaze broke out shortly before 11.45pm at Upton Heath.


A second fire was reported shortly before 5.30am this morning, covering six acres at nearby Canford Heath.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the Upton Heath fire has now been contained.

Firefighters tackling the blaze at Upton Heath

Firefighters tackling the blaze at Upton Heath

POOLE FIRE STATION

The Canford Heath blaze was put out at around 7am, with firefighters later working to dampen down hotspots.

Upton Heath is recognised internationally for its rarity of wildlife, including smooth snake and sand lizard.

Canford Heath is also home to a 850-acre designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

In an update this morning, Poole Fire Station said: "Approx 80 firefighters from across the Service area have been tackling a blaze at Upton Heath overnight.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

"The fire has affected an area of around 300m x 500m, and crews have been using hose reel jets and beaters to extinguish it.

"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.

"We are accessing the site via Beacon Road so please take extra care in that area."

The fire service said multiple crews were also at a fire at Canford Heath

The fire service said multiple crews were also at a fire at Canford Heath

POOLE FIRE STATION

The double blaze comes just days after wildfires hit Moors Valley Country Park on Monday.

The country park, which is located on the Dorset-Hampshire border in nearby Ringwood, also witnessed a second blaze at its main entrance on Tuesday afternoon.

The Met Office had issued an amber wildfire warning earlier this week amid forecasts of temperatures hitting 21C in London.

Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.

"There is currently an amber fire danger rating across England extending into Northern Ireland and the rest of southern Scotland on Wednesday."

She added: "However, showers moving into the far South West will bring some relief to these parts. Then dry weather continues Friday and Saturday extending further north across western Scotland.

"It's a large England warning, covering most of England. We can't be specific on locations due to the nature of wildfires though, and best to stick with the weather conditions with the dry air, breezy and warm conditions, hence the warning, with slightly cooler conditions with the onshore breeze along eastern coasts."