The families were evacuated from their homes after a wildfire engulfed the Dorset wilderness, destroying about 17 hectares (42 acres) of wildlife habitat.
The Canford Heath in Poole is a 340-hectare nature reserve and site of special scientific interest that is home to rare species, including smooth snakes, sand lizards and Dartford cinderellas, as well as vipers, dragonflies and barns.
Fire crews were called to report the fire around 5 p.m. on Saturday. A combination of strong winds and unusually dry vegetation meant the fire spread dramatically and quickly, with the Ferndown fire station crew saying it was the biggest fire at the site in several years.
In the midst of the fire, 80 firefighters and 25 firefighting vehicles were used – 15 pumps, four water carriers and six off-road Land Rover. Most of the fire was put out by 10.30pm and fire crews stayed until Sunday to quell the hotspots and monitor the area.
The hit is right next to one of the largest residential complexes in Europe and people in 20 homes were evacuated to a nearby entertainment center.
On Sunday, a police helicopter was used to order people wishing to take pictures to move away from the site. A man was seen trying to put out some of the flames by knocking him down just to ignite his collar.
Firefighters have estimated that 17 hectares of wasteland have been destroyed by the blaze, and its effect on wildlife has not yet been quantified. A photo taken from the air on Sunday morning shows a blackened wasteland very close to home.
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A local, Alex Saxby, said: “I’ve lived in Canford Heath for about 16 years and it’s one of the worst fires I’ve ever seen. It started from the very top of the desert and reached the bottom very quickly.
“It was scary. Standing next to the roundabout, you could see the flames over bushes and bushes. The wind was very strong, which did not help the situation. I went down there when the fire was low, returned home and spread in half an hour.”
Elizabeth Lady of Poole said, “The amount of smoke coming out was like no fire I’ve ever seen before.”
Graham Cully, a group manager for the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire was probably man-made, but “it will probably be reckless, not a malicious act.” No evidence of barbecue or campfire was found.
Cully said the unusually dry April led to the rapid spread of the fire. He said: “While the ground below is still wet, the dredger and vegetation above are unusually dry for the time of year.
“Residents were naturally worried about their homes, especially after the large bushes and trees in the area were set on fire, which made it look very bad. We decided to evacuate these residents. The fire reached the fences of many properties, but our teams managed to prevent it from reaching the actual properties.
“Our crews faced very difficult conditions, as the wind forced the fire on them and visibility was very poor due to smoke. These residents managed to return to their homes at 10 pm last night after the fire was extinguished.
The Canford Heath is the largest wasteland in Dorset and the largest lowland wasteland in the United Kingdom. Cully described it as an internationally important place for reptiles and birds.
Dorset police have called on witnesses or people with relevant personnel to appear if they can help investigate the cause of the fire.
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