Upton Heath fireplace: Huge blaze hits UK nature reserve in Poole as dry climate prompts main wildfire fears | EUROtoday

An enormous blaze tore by a nature reserve in Dorset on Wednesday night time as fireplace brigades throughout the nation have been positioned on alert for wildfires.

Dozens of emergency crews, together with 80 firefighters, have been dispatched to deal with a wildfire at Upton Heath in Poole after receiving the primary of a number of 999 calls at 11.44pm.

The service mentioned the fireplace had affected an space of round 37 acres on the Heath because the crew labored in “dark and arduous conditions” to comprise the flame.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue mentioned the present reason behind the fireplace is unknown and they’d begin an investigation within the daylight as soon as the fireplace was totally beneath management.

They warned locals that they might be accessing the positioning through Beacon Road, asking folks to “take extra care in that area.”

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services was one of many many brigades throughout the nation to increase an amber wildfire alert on Wednesday.

open picture in gallery

Fire brigades and the Met Office warned of an elevated wildfire danger throughout England, extending into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Wednesday.

The Fire Severity Index, which affords a day by day hazard evaluation for the responder group, was at an amber degree because the alert got here by, which means the circumstances throughout the UK are extreme and will result in wildfires.

Dorset’s fireplace service mentioned that the extent of alert meant, ought to a wildfire be skilled, it might unfold shortly and simply because of the dry circumstances.

They mentioned the danger was biggest on giant areas of open land, corresponding to heathlands, fields and even cliffsides.

The service already skilled plenty of fires this week at Moors Valley Country Park, on the Dorset-Hampshire border, which destroyed a number of hectares of woodland.

The service’s space supervisor Ant Bholah mentioned: “We have already had a number of devastating fires this year, including the on-going issues at Moors Valley and one at Canford Heath last month that destroyed more habitat than all the wildfire incidents we experienced in 2024.

“While the glorious weather is very welcome, especially with the school holidays looming, it does mean the ground and foliage are dry, leading to a greater risk of fire spreading if something happens to cause ignition.

“We would urge anyone going out and about in our beautiful countryside over the coming days to take extra care and be vigilant, follow our advice to #BringAPicnicNotABarbecue, and avoid having campfires on heathland or in woodlands.”