Homes evacuated and major incident declared as wildfire spreads near Bournemouth

A major incident has been declared as 100 firefighters tackle a blaze ripping through Holt Heath in Bournemouth.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue are fighting to control the blaze which broke out near Wimbourne just after 11am on Saturday. 

Locals have been advised to stay clear of the area and 20 homes have been evacuated as residents are being ordered to keep their windows and doors shut.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service are currently also fighting another blaze at Newton Heath, near Swanage, which broke out last Sunday on August 3 and is the size of about 35 football pitches.

Darren Langdown, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s assistant chief fire officer, said the force was ‘extremely grateful’ to neighbouring services from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who have helped battle the fire.

Mr Langdown said: ‘We have declared a major incident both due to the size of the fire at Holt Heath, and also the impact of this and Newton Heath on our overall availability of resources.’

He also urged the public not to fly drones near the fire, as it could interfere with those currently being used by the fire service crews.  

The Holt Heath fire, which covers an area about 1000m x 800m, has resulted in road closures in Holt Heath village and at the junction between Holt Road and Higher Road.

Windy conditions are said to be making the fire harder to tackle, as firefighters are trying to surround the area to prevent it spreading further. 

Residents compared the scene to a ‘horror movie’ and dog walkers quickly fled the scene as people miles away spotted billowing smoke from the Heath.

One dog walker, Marcus Lastra, told the Bournemouth Echo that he witnessed the fire start as smoke rising in the distance, before quickly growing into a huge fire. 

Lastra said: ‘Because it’s an open area, the flames spread very quickly in the wind. In those moments before the fire brigade got there, it had really taken hold. 

‘They started spraying parts of it, but then another section caught fire an it just spread and spread. 

‘There was mayhem on the main road because people were stopping to take pictures.’

Chloe Mountford, from Northbourne, said that her husband first spotted it from their son’s bedroom window.

She said: ‘We’re in Northbourne, so it’s a long way away too but we could still see the smoke from our house’s window.

‘It’s on a hill, so you could see it straight away. Every time the breeze went past, you’d see it’s all showing and it’s all getting bigger.

‘Four hours later it was still about the same, with a lot of smoke.’ 

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service said: ‘We are currently dealing with a large fire at Holt Heath. 

‘This fire is spreading quickly and we strongly advise people to stay away from the area for their own safety. 

‘If you are a local resident you are advised to keep doors and windows closed.’

Whilst the Newton Heath fire is thought to have been started deliberately, is not yet clear how the blaze at Holt Heath began.