Fire on Canford Heath was 'deliberate'

Fire which broke out on two areas of heathland was believed to have been started deliberately.

Dozens of firefighters battled the blaze on Canford Heath in Poole, Dorset from shortly after 22:00 GMT on Monday.

Relief crews were also called in during the night, according to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS).

The service said the cause of the fire was being investigated, and "believed to be deliberate".

In a statement, they explained that crews from Poole and Redhill Park initially attended along with a lightweight off-road vehicle from Wimborne and water carrier from Poole.

"They quickly requested further support and at the height of the incident we had seven fire engines, two off-road vehicles, the Unimog and a water carrier", DWFRS added.

Further crews used compressed air foam and multiple hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.

Remaining hotspots were dampened by relief crews.

One section of the heath affected was approximately 300m (980ft) square and the other was 80m (262ft) square.

The spokesperson added: "Heath fires can occur at any time of year or time of day, and we advise everyone to remain vigilant."

The fire service is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact police.

Canford Heath is one of the largest remaining areas of heathland in Dorset.

The 344 hectares are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

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