A police investigation is underway after a fire at East Lulworth in Dorset destroyed a large barn, 2,000 bales of hay, and a derelict building.
Fire crews from across Dorset including Wareham and Swanage were called to the devastating blaze on farmland belonging to the Lulworth Estate at 3 am on Saturday 15th August 2026.
The barn went up in smoke along with 2,000 bales of hay
Around 60 firefighters
At the height of the incident, around 60 firefighters worked hard to get the fire under control and prevent it spreading to nearby trees, tinder-dry land, and property.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said:
“We are now scaling back but we expect to have an attendance for some considerable time. We currently believe the fire to have been started deliberately and investigations are on-going.”
By the morning the extent of the damage to the barn was revealed
A nearby derelict building was also engulfed in flames
“Causing a lot of smoke”
At the time of the fire, local residents were warned by Wareham Fire Station:
“There are currently multiple DWFRS crews dealing with a barn fire at East Lulworth, with approximately 2,000 bales of straw well alight.
“This is causing a lot of smoke in the local area, so please keep doors and windows closed as a precaution if you’re affected and concerned.”
The fire crews included teams from Poole, Hamworthy, Redhill Park, Westbourne, Dorchester, Wimborne, Maiden Newton, Weymouth, Blandford and Beaminster, Bere Regis, and Yeovil, as well as from Swanage and Wareham.
They were assisted by Wessex Rescue, a voluntary body which supports the emergency services. Its team used a drone to produce aerial footage of the fire along with thermal images, which helped the crews on the ground understand the extent of the blaze.
A drone photo by Wessex Rescue of the barn and buildings
Thermal imaging photo shows the intensity of the heat
“Suspicious activity in the surrounding area”
Due to the suspicions of the fire service on why the fire started, the incident is now being investigated by Dorset Police.
Detective sergeant Erin Kinghorn, of Dorset County CID, said:
“At this time, the cause of the fire remains undetermined. Enquiries are ongoing, and we continue to liaise with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of our investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“I would urge any witnesses, or anyone with information relating to any individual who may be responsible for this fire, to please make contact with us.
“I would also like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the surrounding area during the early hours of Saturday 15th August, or captured any relevant footage on dashcam, home CCTV or doorbell cameras.”
By Sunday 16th August 2026, the fire was under control however it is expected fire crews will be monitoring the area for a few more days to ensure the blaze does not reignite during this period of drought.
All the hay was destroyed
The site continues to smoulder
“Heatwave conditions”
Due to the continuing dry weather the government has issued a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, which are not only known to have been the cause of many wildfires in Purbeck, but are also single use items which are difficult to recycle.
People were also warned via an emergency alert on their phones not to light anything that could spark a fire, including barbecues, campfires, and fireworks.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“The government has issued a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues as they pose a ‘significant risk to the public’ during the current drought and heatwave conditions.
“This is really positive news, however, many of the fires we have been attending recently have been started by bonfires so please make sure you follow our previous advice and do not have any sort of fires in the open during these drought conditions.”
Despite the emergency alert, this disposable barbecue was found abandoned on a wooden bench on Ballard Down overlooking Swanage on Sunday 16th August 2026
Further information
- Anyone with information about the Lulworth barn fire is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260126732. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111
- Both Wareham and Swanage Fire Stations are actively recruiting on call firefighters and can be contacted via their Facebook pages
- More about Wessex Rescue which is a voluntary organisation and welcomes donations to support its work
