Wildfire Contained at Upton Heath in Dorset After Destroying 37 Acres

Firefighters battled overnight to control the blaze as dry weather and record sunshine heightened wildfire risks across the UK.

The wildfire at Upton Heath in Poole, Dorset, broke out at 11:44 PM on April 2, destroying over 37 acres of heathland before being contained by 80 firefighters.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities urging the public to avoid the area around Beacon Road as monitoring continues.
The UK Met Office had issued wildfire warnings following an unusually dry March with record-breaking sunshine and above-average temperatures.
The Fire Severity Index was at an amber level, indicating severe conditions conducive to wildfires, particularly in open areas like heathlands and woodlands.
This incident follows other recent wildfires in Dorset, including at Moors Valley Country Park, highlighting a concerning trend in fire activity linked to changing weather patterns.