Firefighters tackled a huge blaze in Weymouth.

At least six fire engines were called to the fire, in the fields around Lodmoor Nature Reserve near to the recycling centre on Monday.

A warning has been issued today for people to be careful about what they throw away during this hot, dry spell of weather.

It has emerged the fire started at the recycling centre.

A huge smoke cloud could be seen for miles around including Weymouth town centre.

Dorset Echo:

BLAZE: Fire seen from along the coast   Picture: Russell Lockyer

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said they received a call at 3.21pm. 

A spokesman for DWFRS said approximately four hectares of waste ground and reed beds were alight. 

At its height, fire crews urged people to stay away from the area and residents were told to keep doors and windows closed.

Video by Spencer Convey

A police helicopter was also seen circling the area. 

Preston Road was closed both ways, as was Overcombe Corner. Both have now reopened.

Police said they received a call from the fire service at 3.52pm and put road closures in place, closed off areas of the park and assisted with keeping members of the public safe.

Staff at Weymouth Sea Life centre said they noticed the fire at around 4.30pm and were concerned for the animals and that they would need to evacuate.

However, a member of staff spoke with emergency services and they were told their was no danger to the centre and the fire was 'under control'.

Mick Ellis and his partner, Shirley Gill were in town when the fire broke out. 

Miss Gill, who lives on Chelmsford Street, said she saw the smoke plume and panicked as she thought it was near to her flat. 

"We could see the helicopter circling as we walked from town," Mr Ellis said. "Originally the smoke plume was really big. We went out to the back of the Beach car park and climbed the bank by the tip to get a better look but the police turned us back." 

He added officers said they were keeping people away from the area as there was a danger the that the fire could 'jump' in the changing winds. 

The recycling centre was closed and Preston Road was closed both ways, as was Overcombe Corner. 

Multiple lines, hose reel jets and beaters were used to extinguish the fire which was put out shortly after 6pm.

Crews are remaining at the scene through the evening to damp down the area.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said today (Tuesday) that the fire was connected to the recycling centre.

While the cause is unlikely to be established because of the scale of the incident, the brigade said it knows from experience that such blazes often start because of something that has been disposed of.

Another blaze broke out last night at a recyling centre in Canford Heath, Poole.

Area Manager Craig Baker said: “We often see fires at recycling centres in the summer, as people get rid of disposable barbecues, used barbecue ashes and other high risk rubbish. Barbecues should always be completely cold before being thrown away and, ideally, the used coals should be drenched in water as well. Equally, where there is open land, we would urge people not to have camp fires and to be careful when disposing of cigarettes.”

The service said eight fire crews were called to Weymouth household waste recycling centre in Lodmoor Way, where around four hectares of waste ground and reed beds were alight.

The police helicopter attended at scene and assisted crews by identifying how the fire was spreading and where to focus firefighting actions.

Firefighters came from across Dorset to support Weymouth crews including Portland, Bridport, Dorchester, Wareham and Maiden Newton.

The RSPB, which owns the adjacent nature reserve, meanwhile renewed its calls for people to be vigilant about the dangers of fires during the hot, dry weather.

"We'd like to urge people to be extremely careful, especially on heathland," the society's Tony Whitehead said.

He also expressed his thanks to the fire service for dealing with the blaze so promptly.