Suspicious Heath Fires Probe by Police

Description:

A Dorset fire chief is warning arsonists that they are dicing with death and face being imprisoned if they are caught sparking a heath fire

It comes after firefighters' lives were put at risk as they tackled concurrent blazes at Turbary Park Common in Bournemouth and Corfe Mullen. The fires broke out within minutes of each other on Sunday evening.

Keith Bacon, Dorset Fire & Rescue Service area manager, who attended the fire at Corfe Hills School said: "What started as a small fire quickly spread because of the dry conditions and the wind fanning the flames. When the first crew from Poole asked for assistance it felt like an eternity before other appliances arrived because the Bournemouth fire was already on-going with three crews in attendance. Having to tackle two fires at the same time stretched our resources because it involved the deployment of almost 100 firefighters and appliances from across Dorset."

Three hectares of heathland at Corfe Mullen were ravaged by fire  and 150 square metres of heath at West Howe were destroyed.

The Bournemouth fire is being treated as malicious and the police have launched an investigation into the Corfe Mullen Blaze.

The message is that the public should enjoy spending time on heathland but also take care of it.