Overview
- Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, which issued the alert Tuesday, says the warning covers Dorset, Wiltshire and Swindon and signals that any wildfire could spread quickly on dry ground.
- Fire crews report several heathland blazes this year that they believe were started on purpose, including fires at Sandford Heath and Great Ovens Hill that burned several hectares.
- The service urges people to bring a picnic instead of a barbecue, avoid campfires, and follow local bans on disposable barbecues in popular Dorset sites.
- People who see a fire should call 999 from a safe place, while non-emergency tips on deliberate fire setting can go to 101, the Dorset Police website, or CrimeStoppers.
- After more than 750 wildfires in 2025, including a Holt Heath blaze that drew help from 17 other services, local reports warn that proposed on-call station closures could weaken response capacity.