A 300-foot fire front that blazed through Canford Heath for six hours could have spread to nearby homes if firefighters had failed to control it.
The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Canford Heath in Poole for fire alerts around 6pm on Saturday, April 23.
Mark House, Dorset and Wiltshire District Fire and Rescue Manager, said: “We mobilized several fire engines and four-wheel drive off-road vehicles at the scene and quickly realized that the fire was significant, so we compensated for additional resources. ”
The fire burned for about six hours, prompting residents to be evacuated from their homes as it spread.
Residents watch the fire burn in Canford Heath. Photo by Corinne Messer
Mr House said: “At the height of the fire here, we had 15 fire extinguishers and four water carriers, as well as specialized equipment, and we were supported by colleagues from Hampshire and the Fire and Rescue Service on the Isle of Wight.
The fire department announced that the fire was extinguished around 10 pm, and the crews will remain on site throughout the night.
Read more: Huge fire engulfs Canford Heath in Poole as residents are evacuated
Mr House said: “I am now pleased to say that what was about a 300-meter fire front has now been put out, so we have been able to put out the fire and protect the houses that at one point seemed endangered.
Canford Heath Fire. Photo by Elizabeth Lady
“The crews worked extremely hard and the residents showed a lot of understanding and were happy to be moved to a safe place in a local holiday center, now they are all allowed to return to their properties and we are reducing the incident.
“So the fire is out and we’ll probably still be here all night to make sure we’ve muffled any hot spots that could flare up again, and just to reassure the public that they’re safe in their homes. you are.
Read more: Amazing drone photos show the scale of a huge fire in Canford Heath
“Canford Heath Road is closed and will remain closed for the next few hours until we gather the equipment and leave, and then reopen the way for the public.
“I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their understanding, they work very well with us and all other agencies and I would certainly like to thank our own teams for their hard work in protecting property and the rest of the desert. area.
Canford Heath Fire. Photo by Matt Hicks
“Obviously we don’t like to see the damaged wasteland and we’ve limited it to a small area of what could be a large-scale incident.”
Speaking about the cause of the fire, Mr House said: “The incident is being investigated, it is an investigation between the Dorset police and a fire investigation officer from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“At the moment we do not know what the reason is, but this is obviously being investigated, is being investigated and the police are investigating.
Read more: Evacuation center opens as residents are evacuated by Canford Heath fire
The area governor said the long-term effects on wilderness in the desert are likely to be minimal.
He said: “He is currently in custody, so we are working with the border council and they have on-site staff mowing large areas around the fire area to ensure there is no further spread of the fire.
Dorset fire crews are battling a fire at Canford Heath. Photo by Matt Hicks
We are not aware of any problems with sites of special interest, so we would expect, after consultation with land managers, that the health land will simply be regenerated as you would expect anyway, so we do not see such long-term impacts. on the environment. ”
Mr House would like to remind the public of the importance of protecting the desert.
He said: “Although we do not know the reason, I think it is worthy of everyone to be careful to ensure that it does not cause any risk of fire in the hill.
“Please do not use matches or barbecues in the wilderness and then we can enjoy the space safely.”
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