Campfires led to forest blazes amid wildfire warning

The fire took hold on gorse land near Beaulieu late on Saturday

Several areas of a national park are being assessed for damage following weekend fires.

In the worst incident in the New Forest, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said crews from Hardley and Beaulieu began tackling a blaze on Exbury Road, Beaulieu, shortly before 22:00 BST on Saturday.

Hose reels and jets, as well as a specialist water carrier vehicle from Eastleigh, were used to extinguish the blaze which affected a 60m by 40m area of gorse.

Forestry England said it was one of seven fire-related incidents in the forest over the weekend, at least two of which were caused by campfires.

"The current risk of wildfires is high and everyone visiting can help to protect the forest.

"We are reviewing the affected areas to assess the level of damage.

"We would like to thank the fire service for attending the incidents so quickly and making the areas safe," it added.

A 60m by 40m area of gorse was burnt in the wildfire near Beaulieu

The site at Beaulieu is still being monitored and the cause is being investigated.

The use of barbecues and the lighting of campfires in the New Forest is prohibited under Public Space Protection Orders introduced in 2023.

Forestry England also urged people to discard any cigarettes, glass bottles and other litter safely to reduced the risk of wildfires following the hot, dry weather conditions.