A scheme which uses dog walkers as the eyes and ears of Dorset’s heathland is being expanded into Purbeck as the area goes on an amber fire warning ahead of summer.
The K9 Firewise Patrol, launched in 2021 by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Dogs, uses volunteers to walk heathland routes with their dogs to look out for fires, suspicious behaviour and other risks.
Studland Heath – popular with dog walkers and also at risk from wildfires
Amber wildfire alert in place
Now the organisers are looking for their first recruits from those who walk their dogs across heathland areas surrounding places like Swanage, Studland, Langton Matravers, Corfe Castle, Church Knowle, and Wareham.
This follows heath fires at Sandford over Easter 2026 and devastating blazes in 2025 which destroyed 160 hectares of Dorset heathland – the equivalent of 225 football pitches.
An amber wildfire alert is currently in place across the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area, warning that dry and windy conditions mean any fire could spread quickly across heathland, fields and cliffsides.
And the fire service launched a campaign at the beginning of May 2026 to remind the public to take care this summer, as firefighters report a worrying rise in fires that were deliberately started across the area.
It is hoped that an expansion of the K9 Firewise Patrol will become an increasingly valuable tool in wildfire prevention, with volunteers and their dogs easily recognisable in red leads, bandanas, and high visibility jackets.
Paul Atwell is looking for dog walkers to join the K9 Firewise Patrol in Purbeck
“Our eyes and ears on the ground”
Paul Attwell, team manager at the Dorset Heaths Partnership, said:
“Our patrols provide a vital presence on vulnerable heathland sites, and we really appreciate people and their dogs who are willing to volunteer their time to help make a difference and to protect our precious heathlands in Dorset.
“Their presence is not just valuable, it’s vital. These volunteers are the eyes and ears on the ground, helping protect our landscapes and wildlife from fires which can be devastating to these habitats.
“People walking with dogs are often the main visitors to greenspaces and the countryside, so we introduced this voluntary scheme asking our Dorset Dogs community to help observe what’s happening on our heathlands on their daily dog walks and to report any suspicious behaviour.
“Now we want to promote the scheme over here and get more local dog walkers signed up, especially after the fires in Purbeck last year. There were some bad heath fires around Wareham over Easter and we are worried there could be a lot more if we have another warm summer.”
Poppy relishes her role as a canine fire watcher
“Expecting dry and hot weather”
Paul added:
“We know there are a lot of people in Purbeck who are out with their dogs every day and we can tell them what to watch out for and give them the confidence to know who to call and what to do if they see something amiss.
“Some of the K9 Firewise team who live elsewhere in Dorset do come to Purbeck occasionally for longer walks, but we would like to make patrols more permanent to give us better coverage of the area.
“Over the winter, grass and bracken has died down and until it all starts growing and getting green again, when there is moisture in the stems, there is quite a high fire risk. It has also been really windy for the last month, which carries the risk of spreading any fire which starts.
“We are coming up for peak season, and we are expecting dry and hot weather. Dorset Heaths Partnership is working to help prevent fires however we can, and local dog walkers can play a really important role for us.”
Studland was ravaged by a heath fire in August 2022
“Simple, 60 second report”
Since the scheme was started, more than 1,300 patrols have been made, and one volunteer, Mike, said:
“It only takes about an hour and a half of your time to do an induction, give you a bit of information of what to look out for, and what to report – which is a simple, 60 second task at the end of your walk.
“You should look out for signs that people have been having bonfires or barbecues, which are potential accidental causes of fires, maybe even motorcycles out riding on the heaths or people being careless with cigarettes.
“We also look out for illegal fly tipping, which is not only an eyesore, but can be a risk in itself as you never know what people have dumped, there could be something with batteries in which is a fire hazard.”
Mike and Poppy are out every day keeping a watchful eye on Dorset’s heathland
“Fire could have got out of control”
Mike added:
“We don’t want people to put themselves in any danger by tackling someone, you report it to the emergency services instead, although I have approached some teenagers who were having a fire under a tree.
“They weren’t doing anything malicious, just not thinking about what they were doing, as the fire could have got out of control quite easily, and in the end they put it out and moved on.
“The one thing that you can’t measure is the deterrent value, if you see someone walking around in a red high visibility vest and you are minded to do something wrong, that might put you off.
“With more tourists around as we head into summer, if they can see us out and about, it might deter them from starting bonfires and barbecues where there is a risk of fire.”
Holton Heath suffered large scale damage in August 2025 and Easter 2026
Wildfires doubled in three years
Dorset suffers an average of 107 heathland wildfires each year, with fire crews reporting that incidents in open spaces have more than doubled in the past three years, many believed to have been started deliberately.
With another bank holiday on Monday 25th May 2026, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is increasingly concerned that these are placing communities, emergency services, wildlife and the environment at serious risk.
Area manager Marc House said:
“Firefighters, control room operators and staff from across Dorset and Wiltshire, along with our partners, worked extremely hard to bring incidents such as the Canford Heath and more recently the Holt Heath fire to a safe conclusion.
“Anyone who sees suspicious behaviour, small fires, or discarded cigarettes or matches is urged to report it to Dorset Police, or to call 999 in an emergency.
“By staying alert, acting responsibly and reporting concerns, the public can play a vital role in helping to protect communities and prevent wildfires this summer.”
Snakes and lizards were rescued after the 2025 Holton Heath blaze, though many more were not so lucky
“Devastating for nature”
Mark Warn, wildlife ranger at Forestry England added:
“Wildfires can be devastating for nature. Even the smallest fire can take hold very quickly and destroy large areas of heathland and wildlife.
“It can take more than 25 years for these areas to fully recover and for local communities to be able to enjoy these special areas again.
“We can all help to prevent these incidents by remaining vigilant and by reporting any fires immediately to the emergency service.”
Remains of a camp fire at Studland in May 2026
Further information
- Read more about the scheme, and apply to join, at Dorset Dogs
