Wildfire safety warning as summer heats up

Crews have already tackled a number of large wildfires in 2025

The arrival of warmer weather has prompted a warning about wildfires.

Large areas of heathland habitat in Dorset have already been destroyed this year due to "human intervention".

After two large fires in Upton Heath in April, wildlife volunteers had the task of scouring the charred landscape for rare reptiles that had survived.

Dorset's fire service is urging people not to light barbecues and campfires or to discard cigarette ends.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue group manager Jim Weston said: "The longer we go without rain means that the ground and foliage get really dry, leading to a greater risk of fire spreading if something happens to cause ignition.

"We have already had a number of devastating fires this year, so we would urge anyone going out and about in our beautiful countryside to take extra care and be vigilant.

"Follow our advice to bring a picnic, not a barbecue, and avoid having campfires on heathland or in woodlands."

The use of disposable barbecues and camp fires is already banned in many of the county's open spaces.

Restrictions could see anyone caught lighting barbecues, lanterns or fireworks, or dropping cigarettes facing a £100 fine.

Wildlife volunteers scoured Upton Heath for surviving reptiles after April's fires

The fire service is urging people to:

• Avoid having open fires or using barbecues in the countryside.

• Extinguish smoking materials properly, and do not throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.

• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately to the fire service.

• When calling the fire service, get to a safe place, note the fire location, call 999 and meet the fire service at the access point.

• Do not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water – leave the area as quickly as possible.

• If you are at the beach, do not set off flares, have campfires or light barbecues as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on the cliffs catching fire.