Fire crews from across Dorset were sent to tackle a series of heath fires, which started within a short time of each other in the Sandford area near Wareham, causing widespread devastation to rare wildlife at the Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The fires were reported on the evening of Saturday 28th March 2026, with the first emergency call to a blaze on Holton Heath received at 6.52 pm.
Four wheel drive fire vehicles had to be used due to the heathland terrain
Three fires reported within 30 minutes
Wareham fire crew responded and were quickly on the scene, while a crew from Swanage was sent to standby at Wareham Fire Station, but at 7.06 pm they got diverted to a second fire, this time at Great Ovens Hill.
Swanage Fire Station reported:
“On our way, we were mobilised to a different large heath fire near Wareham and were joined by multiple pumps, Land Rovers, the water carrier and the Unimog.
“It was a struggle to get to the location of the fire, but once we did everyone worked hard to get it under control.”
By then, a third heath fire had been reported at 7.19 pm, also in the Great Ovens Hill area.
The smoke could be seen from Morden Road near Lidl
Swanage firefighters were the first to be sent to tackle the blaze at Great Ovens Hill
Crews from 15 fire stations deployed
Due to the rough terrain, multiple small four-wheel drive appliances, water carriers, and heavy off-road appliances, including the Unimog from Wareham were used between the incidents.
Crews from 15 fire stations were deployed in response to the fires. As well as Swanage and Wareham, firefighters came from Beaminster, Bere Regis, Blandford, Christchurch, Cranborne, Ferndown, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Poole, Redhill Park, Springbourne, Verwood, and Westbourne.
Cranborne, Hamworthy, and Maiden Newton are among the eight fire stations that the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service is proposing to close to save money.
On Saturday evening the firefighters try to contain the fire as much as possible
By Sunday, the extent of the damage is clear to see but the tree will probably survive
Nature reserve owned by wildlife charity
The largest fire was at Great Ovens Hill on heathland just off Morden Road. Shoppers leaving the new Lidl at the Sibley Pottery roundabout could see the billowing smoke, with reports of ash falling from the sky like hail.
Great Ovens is a nature reserve owned by the wildlife charity Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. It bought the land in 1996 to help protect rare reptiles like the sand lizard, adder, and smooth snake which populate the area.
The fire caused damage to an area approximately 300 metres by 200 metres, with four areas of visibly burnt heathland.
By about 1 am on Sunday 29th March 2026 the fires had been extinguished although hot spots remained, so crews returned later to damp down the areas.
The timing of the fire was cruel as reptiles would have just emerged from hibernation
Ground nesting birds like the nightjar won’t be populating this habitat this spring
“Believed to be suspicious”
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“The cause of the fires is under investigation, but they are believed to be suspicious. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers or the police.”
In an interesting development, Dorset Police has issued a statement keen to show that they are taking arson on heathland seriously, after criticism of a lacklustre response to the series of deliberately started heath fires in 2025.
While deploying police officers to these incidents is costly, the strain on the finances to the fire service was vast, hence the move to close fire stations to save money.
Superintendent Andy Bell, of the Dorset County local policing command, said:
“We are continuing to liaise with the fire service as enquiries are carried out into the cause of these fires and we are currently treating the incident as suspicious.
“Our investigation remains ongoing and we would urge anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area, or who has any information that might assist our enquiries, to please contact us.
“We are fully aware not only of the damage that fires of this nature cause to the local environment, but also the risks they pose to people and property in the area.
“Throughout the warmer months we will be working proactively with the fire service as well as other partners through the Dorset Heaths Partnership, including local authorities, nature conservation groups and Wessex Rescue.
“Through this co-ordinated work we will look to provide an increased presence in and around our heathlands and other sensitive areas.
“We would also urge members of the public to abide by the safety advice provided by the fire service, particularly in relation to avoiding having open fires or using barbecues in the countryside, and to report any suspicious activity they see around heathlands to us immediately.”
A large area was on fire, fanned by strong winds
“Financial cost to the service that we can’t afford”
Group manager Wayne Jones, from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“Last summer was one of the most challenging for wildfires that we’ve ever faced, so it’s incredibly frustrating to have had these suspicious fires. Incidents like these destroy wildlife, impact our local communities, and have a financial cost to the service that we can’t afford.
“We would urge anyone who has information about these fires to contact the police. If you see a fire in the countryside, please report it immediately to the fire and rescue service on 999. Early detection can prevent fires from developing into large wildfire incidents.”
Watch virtual tour of Great Ovens
Further information
- Contact Crimestoppers or Dorset Police
- More about the DWFRS consultation into the closure of fire stations
