Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a wildfire warning on 20 June 2024, stating that there is an elevated risk of wildfire across its area over the coming days1. The Service said the conditions mean that, should a wildfire be experienced, it could spread quickly and easily, and that the risk is greatest on large areas of open land such as heathlands, fields and even cliffsides1.
Group Manager Graham Kewley said warmer weather after a wet start to the year has left foliage dry, increasing the risk of fires spreading if something causes ignition1. The Service urged people going out in the countryside over the weekend to take extra care, follow its #BringAPicnicNotABarbecue advice, and avoid campfires on heathland or in woodlands1.
"There is an elevated risk of wildfire in the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service area over the coming days."
The Service's guidance covers the following points1:
| Topic | Service guidance |
|---|---|
| Barbecues and open fires | Avoid open fires or barbecues in the countryside; disposable barbecues and campfires are banned in many parts of Dorset |
| Smoking | Extinguish smoking materials properly and do not throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows; take litter home |
| Reporting a fire | Report it immediately; early detection can prevent a large wildfire incident |
| When calling | Get to a safe place, note the fire's location (apps such as What3Words can help), call 999 and meet firefighters at the access point if possible |
| Tackling fires | Do not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with a bucket of water; leave the area as quickly as possible and call 999 |
| Beaches and cliffs | Do not set off flares, have campfires or light barbecues at the beach, as these can lead to gorse and foliage on cliffs catching fire |
Landowners and land managers are advised to be prepared for fires where possible, to ensure fire breaks are cut and well maintained, and to remove cut grasses and vegetation from the site1. Farmers are urged to keep machinery well maintained and to follow the Service's advice on staying fire safe1.
Why it matters for households
The warning covers the Service's whole area, which spans Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset, Swindon and Wiltshire1. It applies over the coming days, with the Service highlighting the weekend in its comments1. Households visiting heathland, fields, cliffsides or beaches in that area face a greater chance of fires spreading quickly in current conditions1. The Service advises avoiding open fires and barbecues in the countryside, noting that disposable barbecues and campfires are banned in many parts of Dorset, and advises reporting any countryside fire immediately on 999 rather than attempting to tackle anything beyond a bucket of water1. Practical background on these risks is set out in the guide to wildfires and grass fires and in the guide to barbecues and wildfire risk in dry weather, within the wider heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
The Service has not reported an end date for the warning, stating only that the elevated risk applies over the coming days1. No further update has been reported.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
Barbecues and Wildfire Risk
