Crews from seven stations contain Agglestone heath fire as residents urged to keep windows closed
More than 40 firefighters were mobilised to a heathland blaze near Studland on Monday evening, with crews remaining at the scene into Tuesday to prevent the fire reigniting. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said teams were called at around 7pm on 13 July to an incident at Agglestone.
Firefighters from Swanage, Poole, Wareham, Redhill Park, Wimborne, Ferndown and Ringwood (Hampshire FRS) responded, using hose reels and beaters to bring the flames under control. At the height of the operation, DWFRS advised the public to avoid the area and asked local residents to keep doors and windows shut due to smoke.
"Approx. 45 firefighters are dealing with this incident using hose reels and beaters. The public are asked to avoid the area and local residents are asked to keep windows and doors closed."
By around 9pm, the service reported the fire had affected roughly 100m by 50m of heath and had been extinguished, with crews spending time damping down the site. Shortly after 10pm, officers began scaling back the response, leaving one fire engine and a Land Rover to monitor conditions overnight.
DWFRS thanked partner agencies for their assistance, including Dorset Police, Wessex Rescue, HM Coastguard, South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST) and the Studland Chain Ferry. A spokesperson said on Tuesday morning that crews had returned to the location at 6am on 14 July and would remain in attendance throughout the day to check for and extinguish any remaining hotspots.
Timeline of the response
| Time | Update |
|---|---|
| ~7pm, Mon 13 Jul | Seven stations mobilised to heath fire at Agglestone, near Studland. |
| ~9pm | Fire contained; area of approximately 100m x 50m affected; damping down underway. |
| ~10pm | Incident scaled back; one fire engine and Land Rover remained on scene. |
| 6am, Tue 14 Jul | Crews revisited; ongoing work to damp down hotspots to prevent re-ignition. |
Public advice and ongoing presence
DWFRS reiterated requests for people to avoid the area while firefighters continue to work. Residents nearby were earlier advised to close windows and doors to limit smoke entering homes.
Heathland fires can smoulder below the surface and flare up again, particularly in dry conditions, which is why crews remained to make sure the site was safe. The service confirmed it would keep a presence at Agglestone to monitor and deal with any residual heat.
Multi-agency support
The response brought together fire crews and partners to support access, safety and welfare. DWFRS said it was "grateful for support" from police, coastguard and ambulance colleagues, as well as local rescue volunteers and the chain ferry team assisting in the Studland area.
- Location: Agglestone, near Studland
- Responding stations: Swanage, Poole, Wareham, Redhill Park, Wimborne, Ferndown, Ringwood (Hampshire FRS)
- Scale: Approximately 45 firefighters at peak; burn area around 100m x 50m
Further updates are expected from DWFRS if conditions change or if any restrictions remain in place. For now, the service’s advice is to keep clear of the site while firefighters continue their work.
