Following an investigation into the fire at Wareham Forest, which has been ongoing since Monday, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue now believe the cause of this fire to be accidental, due to social activity in the forest.
While they have said they cannot pinpoint the exact cause, they have found evidence of multiple disposable barbecues, campfires and glass bottles.
Due to the current weather and weekend forecast, an AMBER alert for wildfire remains in place. This means that, should another wildfire develop, it could spread quickly and easily due to the dry and windy conditions. As seen in Wareham Forest, wildfires take a great deal of resources and time to bring under control.
The fire service are asking our community “PLEASE do not have campfires or use disposable barbecues in our forests and heathlands. Please stay fire-aware when out and about and please stay vigilant.”
The effect of these fires can be devastating to the local environment and wildlife. More information on staying safe and enjoying our outside areas whilst avoiding a wildfire starting can be found here – www.dwfire.org.uk/heath-fires-and-countryside-safety
Images from DWFire Facebook.
