Overview

• The major incident declared on August 9 remains in effect as the Holt Heath wildfire continues to burn across roughly 80 hectares.
• More than 100 firefighters from Dorset & Wiltshire FRS and neighbouring services are engaged alongside specialist appliances and aerial drones.
• Emergency teams have evacuated 20 homes, closed local roads, and advised residents to stay clear, keep doors and windows shut, and avoid drone flights near the blaze.
• Unusually hot, dry and windy conditions have triggered an Amber wildfire alert and are hampering containment efforts by fueling flare-ups.
• Investigators are probing the cause of the Holt Heath fire, while a separate Newton Heath blaze near Swanage is suspected to be deliberate.