Families were evacuated from their homes after a forest fire that engulfed the moorland in Dorset, destroying about 17 hectares (42 acres) of habitat rich in wildlife.
Canford Heath in The pool covers an area of 340 hectares. nature reserve and site of special scientific interest that home to rare species including smooth snakes, agile lizards and Dartford warblers, as well as vipers, dragonflies and nightjars.
Fire crews were called out report of a fire around 17:00 on Saturday. Combination of strong winds and unusually dry vegetation led to a sharp and rapid spread of the flames. with in Crew at Ferndown fire station say it was the biggest fire in that location for number of years.
There are 80 firefighters and 25 firefighters at the height. vehicles used to battle flame – 15 pumps, four water carriers and six offroad Land Rover. Majority of in fire was out until 22:30 and fire crews stayed until Sunday to drown out down hotspot and control area.
Hit right next to one of largest residential complexes in Europe and people in 20 homes were evacuated to the nearest entertainment center.
On Sunday, a police helicopter was used to order people, tends to take pictures, away from the site. One man was seen trying to drown out down part of flame punching on it’s just for his trainer to catch fire.
Fire chiefs estimated that 17 hectares of wasteland was destroyed through fire, with This effect on wild animals have yet to be quantified. Photo taken from air on Sunday morning shows blackened heather very close to the houses.
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One local resident, Alex Saxby, said: “I lived in Canford Heath for about 16 years old and one of the worst fires I have ever seen. It started from the very top of wastelands and very quickly reached the bottom.
“It was scary. Standing at the roundabout, one could see the flames above the bushes and shrubs. The wind was very bad, which is not help situation. I went down there when fire was small returned back home and inside half hour it has spread en masse.
Elizabeth Leddy of Poole said: amount of chimney out was like no wasteland fire I’ve seen before.
Graham Kewley, group manager in Dorset and Wiltshire fire and the rescue service said the fire was likely caused by human action, but “most likely it was recklessness and not any malicious act.” No proof of barbecue or camping fire was found.
Kewley said that an unseasonably dry April resulted in fire spreads rapidly. He said, “While the ground is still wet under him, gorse and vegetation on the top was unusually dry for time of year.
“Inhabitants, of course, concerned for them homes especially in the form of large bushes and trees in in area caught fire and what made it looks very bad. We took in decision evacuate these residents. fire reached the fence line of quite a lot of objects, but our teams were able to prevent him from getting to the real objects.
“Our Crews faced some very difficult conditions as the wind forced fire to them, and visibility was very poor because of the smoke. These residents were able to return to their homes at 22:00 last the night after fire was out”.
Canford Heath – the largest moorland in Dorset and the largest lowland moorland in United Kingdom. Kewley called it a site of international importance. for reptiles and birds.
Dorset police appeal for witnesses or people with corresponding frames ahead forward if they could help in investigation cause of in fire.
