Date: 3rd May, 2025
Time: 8.39pm
Description: 9.45pm - At 8.39pm this evening, our control room received the first of over 60 calls to reports of a fire on the undercliff near Bournemouth pier. Firefighters from Springbourne, Westbourne, Poole, Ferndown, Christchurch and Wimborne are currently at the scene dealing with a fire measuring approx. 100m x 100m. East Overcliff Drive and Undercliff Drive are currently closed to allow crews to deal with this incident. The public are asked to avoid the area.
10.20pm update - Firefighters are using compressed air foam, main lines and safe working at height equipment so extinguish the fire. The incident remains ongoing at this time.
11pm update - The fire is now believed to be out and no further resources are required. Firefighters will remain on scene for approximately 45 minutes dampening down hotspots. A crew will return at 6am tomorrow (4th May) to reinspect the area.
Sunday 4th May, 7.30am update - One crew from Springbourne returned to the undercliffs this morning to reinspect. Then found some hotspots and requested the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne to assist with access. Hotspots were extinguished using one hose reel.
1pm update - Fire crews have returned again to this incident to check for hotspots. Several were identified and extinguished using a hose reel. The incident will remain open for a re inspection again this afternoon. The cause of this fire will be difficult to determine due to the nature of the incident. The cliff does not spontaneously combust, despite the warm weather we’ve been experiencing, so we do believe there to have been some human intervention. However, we cannot determine whether that is accidental or deliberate.
Location: 53 Grove Rd, Bournemouth BH1 3AN, UK