Date: 20th June, 2025
Time: 6.10pm
Description: We were called to Christchurch Road, Longham for a derelict building well alight. We currently have eight fire crews and two support appliances on scene – approx. 40 firefighters. Hose reel jets and main jets are being used to tackle the fire, which is generating a lot of smoke, so local people are advised to keep doors and windows closed if affected.
9pm: We remain on scene, although we are starting to release appliances from the scene.
10pm: We will scale back to three relief crews in approx half an hour. The advice to local residents to keep doors & windows closed has been rescinded as there is now only a light smell of smoke in the area.
7am, 21 June: The stop came in at 10.22pm last night and we still have two crews on scene dealing with hotspots. The fire was extinguished using three main jets, a ground monitor, the aerial ladder platform and ten breathing apparatus wearers. We are making arrangements to get the adjacent road reopened.
12noon, 21 June: The building has been destroyed by fire, multiple hotspots remain so we are keeping on crew on scene as a watching brief.
4.30pm: The site has been handed back to the owner and we have left the scene. An investigation into the cause of the fire will continue in the coming days.
5pm, 23 June: There are still a few hotspots within the debris that are generating smoke. Crews will reinspect the site on a regular basis for the next few days as a precaution.
24 June: The fire is believed to have been started deliberately, and Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses.
Location: Christchurch Road, Longham, Ferndown, UK