Overview
- A large heath fire broke out at Bourne Valley Park on Monday, triggering more than 40 emergency calls and a multi-appliance response from around 40 to 50 firefighters.
- Dorset Police said the blaze may have been started deliberately and have launched a suspected arson investigation that asks the public to contact them with information.
- No injuries were reported and crews from multiple local stations used specialist vehicles to fight the fire and were still dampening hotspots the following morning.
- Police gave occurrence number 55260101093 for reports and invited witnesses to contact Dorset Police or to provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers.
- Local residents described rapid spread driven by dry vegetation and wind, recalled a history of nearby fires, and urged better vegetation management because of health and safety concerns.