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Nature Reserve Engulfed by Overnight Heath Fire
5 Nov
Summary
- Firefighters battled a heathland blaze overnight near Poole.
- High winds rapidly spread flames across the nature reserve.
- Residents advised to close windows due to heavy smoke.
A large fire erupted on heathland at the Canford Heath nature reserve near Poole on Wednesday evening, November 5th, 2026, at approximately 20:00 GMT. Fire crews from across Dorset and Hampshire were dispatched to the scene, with 14 appliances initially responding.
Strong winds exacerbated the situation, causing the flames to spread rapidly across the 344-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest. Relief crews were brought in during the early hours to assist with dampening down the affected areas, indicating the fire was still active as of Thursday morning.
Authorities have issued advisories for residents in the vicinity to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed to mitigate the impact of the heavy smoke. Canford Heath is a crucial habitat for various species, including dragonflies, damselflies, Dartford warblers, nightjars, and all six native British reptile species.
