Date: 3rd August, 2025
Time: 3.28am
Description: We were called at 3.28am today (3 August) to Newton Heath to reports of a fire in the open. Initially a crew from Weymouth were mobilised followed by further crews from Bridport, Poole, Wimborne, Christchurch, Westbourne, Redhill Park alongside lightweight off-road and support vehicles from Beaminster, Bere Regis, Dorchester, Lyndhurst (Hampshire & Isle of Wight FRS) and a water carrier from Eastleigh (Hampshire & Isle of Wight FRS).
On arrival, they found a wildfire affecting an area of heathland approximately 70 metres by 50 metres. Firefighters are using one main line, hose reel jets and beaters to extinguish.
12:30pm update: Relief crews are using multiple main lines and hose reel jets to extinguish. We currently have eight Appliances, two support vehicles and two water carriers on scene from Weymouth, Poole, Christchurch, Westbourne, Redhill Park, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, Hamworthy, Wareham, Ferndown, Dorchester and Eastleigh (Hampshire & Isle of Wight FRS).
3:00pm update: Firefighters are working hard to extinguish the fire using multiple main lines and hose reel jets. The wind has caused further spread and additional appliances have been mobilised from Charmouth, Springbourne, Swanage, Trowbridge and Dorchester alongside a water carrier from Bridport and a Unimog from Wareham. We have approximately 55 firefighters in attendance.
Monday 4 August - 9.00am update: Relief crews attended the scene overnight from Lyme Regis, Gillingham, Poole, Sherborne, Tisbury, Mere, Warminster, Maiden Newton, Amesbury and Fordingbridge (Hampshire & Isle of Wight FRS). The fire has affected approximately 19 hectares of heathland. Four appliances and three lightweight off-road vehicles are in attendance. In total, approximately 36 stations have attended this incident including four from Hampshire & Isle of Wight FRS, so far.
4pm update: We currently have five appliances, three lightweight off-road vehicles and a water carrier on scene. Crews are still actively firefighting several small seats of fire. We believe the cause to be deliberate and we are working with Dorset Police to investigate.
Tuesday 5 August, 9.30am update: Overnight further relief crews prevented the spread of fire and extinguished flare ups. Several seats of fire and multiple hotspots are currently being tackled by crews using main lines, hose reel jets and ground monitors. We have four appliances and three lightweight off-road vehicles on scene.
6pm update: The fire has flared up again due to the strong winds in the area, so we have increased our attendance at scene for additional manpower and water. We currently have nine fire engines, three small 4x4 appliances and a Unimog in use. A large smoke plume has been caused by the fire, which is visible from some distance away, and we are asking people to stay away from the area for their own safety.
9pm update: The area affected by fire now measures approx. 200m x 300m, with active firefighting continuing across all parts. We expect to remain on site throughout the night and tomorrow.
Wednesday 6 August, 9.30am update: After maintaining a watching brief overnight, we have a mix of fire engines and small 4x4 appliances on scene this morning, together with a Unimog and a high volume pump to support water supply. The fire is contained but we expect to be actively firefighting throughout today at least. There is still smoke rising from the incident, and we are asking people to stay away from the area for their own safety.
Update 4.20pm: Good progress is being made and the incident has been scaled back to three pumping appliances, three small 4x4 appliances, one Unimog and the high volume pump. Crews continue to tackle hot spots and prevent further fire spread. A review of the resources will take place at around 8pm this evening.
Thursday 7 August, 7.30am update: Overnight relief crews were scaled back to two appliances and two small 4x4 appliances. Due to an increase in wind there have been a number of flare ups and crews have been using main lines and hose reel jets, with good progress being made.
It has now affected an area of approximately 25 hectares of forest and heathland.
12.30pm update: We currently have 4 appliances, two Unimog’s, a water carrier, a high water volume pump, welfare unit, command support vehicle along with a heavy off-road appliance and three small 4×4 appliances in attendance. Crews are dealing with hotspots and creating fire breaks.
10.00pm update: Significant progress has been made and crews are maintaining a watch brief and dampening down. One appliance, a water carrier, a high water volume pump and two small 4x4 appliances remain in attendance.
Friday 8 August, 10:50am: Hotspots in the area are still visable. Three pumping appliances, three small 4x4 appliances and the high volume pump remain in attendance to continue monitoring and extinguishing hotspots. The incident resources will be reviewed later today.
Update Saturday 9 August, 8pm: Good progress has continued throughout today to extinguish hotspots using hose reel jets and back packs. Resources for this incident has been scaled down and a presence will remain on scene for another night to prevent any escalation. The High Volume Pump is no longer in use.
Update Sunday 10 August, 10:30am: We have continued to dampen down hotspots with crews from Bridport and Sturminster Newton in attendance along with support vehicles from Christchurch, Dorchester and Ferndown. There is still a small amount of smoke in the area.
Update Tuesday 12 August: Our stop came in at 11.09am this morning. We have now left the incident, and it has been handed over to Forestry England who will monitor. We’d like to extend a big thank you to everyone who has helped to support us with this incident.
Location: M242+J2 Wareham, UK
- Weymouth,
- Bridport,
- Poole,
- Wimborne,
- Christchurch,
- Westbourne,
- Redhill Park,
- Beaminster,
- Bere Regis,
- Dorchester,
- Shaftesbury,
- Sturminster Newton,
- Hamworthy,
- Wareham,
- Ferndown,
- Verwood,
- Lyme Regis,
- Gillingham,
- Sherborne,
- Tisbury,
- Mere,
- Warminster,
- Maiden Newton,
- Amesbury,
- Charmouth,
- Springbourne,
- Swanage,
- Trowbridge,
- Ludgershall,
- Cranborne,
- Westbury,
- Blandford,
- Swindon,
- Calne,
- Marlborough,
- Royal Wootton Bassett,
- Pewsey,
- Chippenham,