Heath fire started 'deliberately' - fire service

Those living nearby are being urged to keep windows and doors closed due to the large amount of smoke

A wildfire at a nature reserve is believed to have been started deliberately, the fire service has said.

Firefighters worked through the night to tackle the the fire near Blackhill Road, on Holton Heath near Poole, after it broke out on Thursday evening.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said fires had been found in multiple places and were burning deep within the peat on the heath. It said the cause of the fire was being investigated, and "believed to be deliberate".

About 40 firefighters are on scene and are expected to remain at the heath throughout Friday with those living nearby urged to keep windows and doors closed as it was causing a considerable amount of smoke.

Crews from several stations were sent to the heath fire along with two Unimog vehicles from Wareham

On Friday morning seven appliances, two unimogs, a water carrier and three support vehicles arrived to help bring the fire under control.

DWFRS said no injuries had been reported.

St Gabriel's Pre-school on nearby Keysworth Road said children would not be playing outside as the smoke from the heath fire was blowing towards the school.

It said it would be keeping windows and doors closed as advised.

Posting a message to parents on social media shortly before 07:30, the school said the temperature in the rooms was "already at 22C".

"It's going to be hot...we will leave the decision with you if you want to send your children in. We of course will allow early collection if you want them to do part day.

"We do hope in the next couple of hours things change and we will be able to play out or have the doors open."

One of Dorset's national nature reserves, the area is owned by Natural England and spans 117 hectares of woodland and lowland heath.

The reserve's compact bushes provide nest sites for Dartford warblers and stonechats - its areas of bare sands are home to burrowing bees and wasps, and egg-laying sand lizards.

On Tuesday evening a wildfire took hold of an area of Turbary Heath in Bournemouth.

Fire investigators later said that nature reserve fire was being treated as arson and police were investigating.