Firefighters from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spent the night battling a wildfire on heathland in Dorset. The blaze broke out at around 17:00 BST on Monday in the Agglestone area, near Studland. A team of seven crews worked together to tackle the fire, with additional support from Dorset Police, Wessex Rescue, HM Coastguard, and SWAST. The Studland Chain Ferry also assisted by transporting vehicles across to the peninsula. The fire affected an area approximately 100m by 50m, with crews working to prevent it from spreading due to the wind.
The operation was further complicated by another field fire near Dorchester, which crews from eight stations tackled over a three-hour period. This fire had spread across three large agricultural fields next to the Old Sherborne Road, near Charlton Down. Farmers played a key role in helping to combat the blaze, using cultivators and slurry tankers to assist the fire crews.
The overnight efforts of firefighters have so far contained the blaze, but the situation remains under close monitoring. Relief crews will remain on the scene throughout Tuesday to continue damping down the area and prevent any further spread of the fire.