logo
Dorset wildfire on Corfe Castle healthland reignited

Dorset wildfire on Corfe Castle healthland reignited

BBC News6 days ago
A wildfire thought to have been started deliberately has flared up again due to strong winds.Multiple fires were reported in the Studland area of Dorset on Saturday night and Sunday morning.Firefighters had been damping down hotspots at the last incident at Newton Heath, near Corfe Castle, on Tuesday but the wind reignited the flames.Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said crews were on site throughout the night and were expected to remain there on Wednesday.
At 21:00 BST on Tuesday, DWFRS said "active fire fighting" was taking place on an area measuring 200m by 300m (650ft by 980ft).It said it had brought in "additional manpower and water", including nine fire engines and a Unimog vehicle.Swanage Fire Station said crews had received "non-stop" callouts since Saturday night, to tackle fires at Middlebere Heath, Decoy Heath, Arne and Newton Heath.
Crews and vehicles from stations across Dorset, as well as Wiltshire and Hampshire, have been involved in the operation.Fire service group manager Stuart Gillion said DWFRS was working with Dorset Police to establish the cause of the fires that were "all likely to have been deliberate ignition".
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Telford gorse fire prompts dry weather safety plea
Telford gorse fire prompts dry weather safety plea

BBC News

time22 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Telford gorse fire prompts dry weather safety plea

Fire crews have tackled a blaze across a large area of gorse and grass near Telford, prompting warnings to the public to take extra care during the current engines were sent to Woodside where crews on Tuesday afternoon used beaters and hose jets to fight flames on a space measuring 200 metres by 100 alerts to the fire service had included a blaze in trees and undergrowth thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette, and another alert over a Woodside, a specialist crew sent up a drone to check whether the fire had spread further afield, and to look for hotspots. Crews were at the scene from about 12:15 BST to 14:15 BST. Tweedale fire station manager Craig Jackson said firefighters surrounded the fire, before crews started damping down."We're asking the public not to take barbecues into the countryside," he said."Please be careful when disposing of glass bottles or cigarettes and please do not have bonfires during this dry period." Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said on social media: "Thanks to the hard work of all crews involved, today's fire was brought under control."We'd like to remind the public to take extra care during dry conditions — even small sparks can cause large fires."Please dispose of cigarettes responsibly and ensure campfires are fully extinguished before leaving." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Three grass fires tackled in 24 hours in London heatwave
Three grass fires tackled in 24 hours in London heatwave

BBC News

time25 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Three grass fires tackled in 24 hours in London heatwave

Three grass fires have been tackled by London Fire Brigade (LFB) crews in 24 hours as the capital records the UK's highest temperature of the day at 33.3C (91F).About 70 firefighters in 10 fire engines tackled a fire at the Wanstead Flats parkland in north-east London on Tuesday.A grass fire had been put out in the same area the previous evening. A further 60 firefighters also put out a grass fire of about three hectares (7.4 acres) in Northolt, west London, on Tuesday afternoon. An LFB spokesperson said on the Wanstead Flats fire: "Approximately four hectares (9.8 acres) of grassland were alight. "Firefighters have [been] working efficiently to bring the fire under control. However crews will remain on scene this afternoon to fully extinguish the fire and dampen down."The fire in Northolt was brought under control by 16:00 BST. Northolt was also the location to record the country's highest temperature on Tuesday, according to the Met Office. Sites in London are among several across southern England, the Midlands and East Anglia that have now met heatwave criteria, having seen three consecutive days above their threshold temperatures.

Temperatures expected to hit 34C as UK enters fourth heatwave
Temperatures expected to hit 34C as UK enters fourth heatwave

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Temperatures expected to hit 34C as UK enters fourth heatwave

Wildfires have started and health alerts have come into force as the country enters its fourth heatwave of the summer – with temperatures reaching 34C in places. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned of possible deadly effects as it issued heat health warnings for all of England. Amber warnings are in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London and the South East until Wednesday, with yellow warnings in place for the remainder of the country. The agency has warned of significant impacts across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Wildfires, which are already commonplace in Europe, have been reported in two areas of London. Eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters have been called to tackle a grass fire near Arnold Road in Northolt, Ealing, with about seven acres of grass, trees and shrubland reported to be alight. And 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters were called to a fire covering 10 acres of grassland by Wanstead Flats in Redbridge, according to the London Fire Brigade. It said the second fire was brought under control at 3.30pm, while the first continues. The brigade had to tackle a fire in the same location in Redbridge on Monday, which required eight fire engines, and last month, in which an area of 14 acres was affected. The Met Office has said the heat will peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, during which temperatures are expected to reach 34C in southern areas, West Midlands, Wales and eastern England including Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and East Anglia. Temperatures should begin cooling by Thursday, with highs of 29C to 30C expected in London and East Anglia and a potential for heavy and thundery showers, particularly in northern England, with even a possibility of a weather warning. Dan Suri, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'During Wednesday daytime, temperatures could peak at 34°C, with the heat shifting eastwards into east England, while parts of Scotland could also see temperatures above 30°C. 'By the evening, there is an increased risk of thunderstorms across northern areas, with the potential for some fairly wet weather. Whilst the exact location for these unsettled conditions remains uncertain, it's possible a warning may be issued closer to the time.' The Met Office defines a heatwave as temperatures meeting or exceeding a certain threshold for three consecutive days or more. This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher. On Tuesday, officials warned that England is suffering from 'nationally significant' water shortfalls despite rain in July. The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status. England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said. In 2023, the cost of farm fires in the UK increased by 37% to an estimated £110.3 million, according to the NFU Mutual's latest data. Rachel Hallos, vice-president of the National Farmers' Union, said: 'Farmers are on the front line of this crisis, but we can't tackle this alone. 'It's vital that Government and fire services work with us on prevention, education and response and urgently review whether some changes in land management – particularly in the uplands – could be increasing wildfire risk as hotter, drier summers become more frequent.' A campaign group has called on the Government to create better climate adaptation plans. Alison Dilworth, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: 'Heatwaves are becoming deadlier and more frequent as climate change accelerates, yet government action to help protect people falls far short of what is required. 'Ministers must urgently strengthen their climate adaptation plans to protect communities from increasingly severe weather events like extreme heat – as well as do more to cut the emissions that are fuelling the crisis. 'This should include insulating homes, schools, and care facilities to stay cool in summer and warm in winter, planting street trees to shade our neighbourhoods, and fitting libraries and community hubs with air con so people have safe places to shelter in heatwaves.' A spokeswoman for Defra responded: 'Alongside becoming a clean energy superpower, the Government is taking robust action to adapt to a changing climate. 'The national adaptation programme includes steps to make local communities become more resilient to overheating, a Local Advisory Climate Service to give authorities support and we're putting £30 billion into improving hospital buildings. 'We urge people to take extra care in the hot weather with building regulations in place to reduce the risk of new homes overheating and housing tenants can speak to their council if excess heat means that their property is in a dangerous condition.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store