Heath Fire down in Poole, Dorset direction

[Matthew Arnold]

Anyone been down that neck of the woods this afternoon? We could see the smoke from Sturminster Newton. All appliances have gone from Blandford ( 2 18 ton and 1 Land Rover), 2 from stur newton, 2 from shaftesbury (one on stand by at blandford) and what ever is down at Poole.

 

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9076136.Firefighters_tackle_blaze_at_Upton_Heath/

Edited June 9, 2011 by Matthew Arnold

[Matthew Arnold]

Here is the BBC link. Approx 250 Acres destroyed so far

 

BBC News - Dorset heath fire 'spreading rapidly'

[David Goss]

wow that looks nasty, i hope nobody gets hurt...

[Matthew Arnold]

wow that looks nasty, i hope nobody gets hurt...

 

Only the gits who started it

[David Goss]

Only the gits who started it

 

right on

[Matthew Arnold]

right on

 

The fire was almost under control until 30 mins ago when the wind changed direction and is now aiming for a small (1 km) wide finger of heathland linking Upton Heath with Tower Hill Heath and then Canford Heath. If that goes up the preverbial will hit the fan.

 

This is whats burning Upton Heath Nature Reserve

 

The total are that has the potential to burn is 506 acres or there abouts.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Matthew Arnold

[Matthew Arnold]

Now upto 740 acre of heathland alight. so it has destroyed Upton Heath it is now aiming for Creekmoor Heath and plantation. I wouldn't be surprized if it goes past 1000 acres in the next hour or two but now upto 200 fire fighters. Dorset only has 225 (most of which are retained). The wind is basically acting like a massive bellow. The last big fire we had was Canford Heath and that incinerated 100 hectares of heath in 4 hours. That was in 2006 on a heath only 1/2 mile or so from the main seat of the fire. Here are links of Canford Heath blaze in 2006:

 

BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Homes evacuated as heath blazes

 

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Canford Heath blaze

[Matthew Arnold]

Pics from my house of the smoke. Only about 18 miles from the fire.

[NI Tree]

the problem is that they do not control burn it then this happends

[tommer9]

I grew up near Broadstone....used to regularly see these areas on fire like this. As a kid I can remember summers where everywhere was under smoke!!