Seventy firefighters tackle major blaze across Purbeck heathland (From Dorset Echo)
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Seventy firefighters tackle major blaze across Purbeck heathland
10:20am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News
SEVENTY firefighters tackled a major fire which tore through two hectares of heathland in Purbeck.
Ten engines plus support vehicles were called to the blaze at Furzebrook, near Stoborough. Police and fireclosed the Wareham to Corfe Castle road after the blaze broke out at 2pm yesterday.
An investigation is underway into the how the fire started.
Station officer Richard Coleman said: “Initial reports came through that it was about two hectares.
“With this type of fire you don’t often find physical evidence to how it started but an investigation has been launched.
“The big reason it escalated was because of the wind.
“A wind-driven fire makes it much more difficult and becomes much more dangerous.
“We closed the A351 because the flames were getting near to the edge of the road.”
The road was fully re-opened at 3.41pm.
