Wind-swept flame from barbecue caused Stoborough heath fire

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has reminded people of the dangers of using naked flame near heathland following the fire at Stoborough Heath on Sunday, June 26.

Around a hectare of grassland, heath and gorse was affected by the blaze, which started accidentally when a portable ‘kettle drum’ barbecue was lit and the strong winds caused an adjacent hedge to catch alight.

Portable ‘kettle drum’ barbecue which caused Stoborough heath fire

At the height of the incident, crews from Wareham, Swanage, Redhill Park, Westbourne, Springbourne, Wimborne, and three from Poole were on scene, together with a small 4x4 appliance from Swanage, water carriers from Ringwood and Bridport, a support unit from Hamworthy, and the Unimog from Wareham – approximately 50 firefighters.

After the first of numerous 999 calls were received at 2.21pm, the nearby A351 between Wareham and Swanage was closed for several hours while the fire was tackled. By 4pm, the fire was under control but crews remained on scene until after midnight, dealing with hotspots and damping down.

Group manager Charlie Pack said: “This incident shows just how careful we need people to be when they’re near heathland. The barbecue was only a couple of metres away from the hedgerow and the strong winds caused the flames to quickly take hold and spread.

“Our crews did a great job in getting the fire surrounded, but there has still been significant damage to the countryside, which could have been avoided with a bit more thought.”

Heath fire at Stoborough, Wareham. Picture: DWFS

Fire containment and damping down continued into Sunday evening, with crews returning at around 7am on Monday to continue. They will also return at 4.40pm on Monday for a final check.

No injuries were reported following the fire.

The service has recently launched its #BringAPicnicNotABBQ campaign, to highlight the risks of using barbecues in the open.

Everyone is asked to follow this advice:

• Avoid having open fires or using barbecues in the countryside.
• Barbecues and campfires are banned in many country parks, campsites and open spaces. Make sure you check what is and isn’t allowed where you are, and follow the rules.
• Extinguish smoking materials properly, and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows – take your litter home.
• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Early detection can prevent it from developing into a large wildfire incident.