31:
364:
pumps. 22 crew from other counties also attended. Also in attendance was a
Forestry England fire-fighting helicopter, Wildfire Tactical Advisors from Hampshire, West Sussex and South Wales, a tactical burn team, and nine separate drone deployments by the fire service, Dorset Police and Wiltshire Police. Several miles of hose had to be laid to the nearby
132:
or campfire before 12:20 on 18 May 2020. The site where it started, near Sugar Hill, contained both these items, as well as glass bottles, and the cause of the fire was ascribed to 'social activity'. The initial attendance was 14 fire engines, as well as police resource to close Sugar Hill/Bere Road,
363:
The fire service finally withdrew from the fire on 4 June 2020, seventeen days after the fire started. 220 hectares of forest had been burned. Firefighters from all 50 station in Dorset and
Wiltshire were used, totalling 70 of the 74 engines, all eight heavy off-road pumps and all 14 Land Rover
167:
At 18:00, the fire had worsened due to strong prevailing winds and the fire had started to disrupt electricity supplies in the area. It now covered approximately 100 hectares of heath and woodland, and 150 firefighters were involved, including most of the fire engines in Dorset and several from
307:
By 19 May, the fire had been brought under control. Firefighters had started to deal with the "deep-rooted hotspots, burning roots and tree stumps", and some thought could start to be given to the damage caused.
287:
The fire was declared a "major incident" shortly after it was discovered, and by the end of the first day, the fire had spread to 183 hectares, and the smoke plume was affecting people as far away as
772:
561:
1128:
387:
906:
901:
881:
765:
312:, who managed the land, pointed out that the 1,500 hectare forest was one of the only places in the UK where all six species of British reptile – the
613:
1840:
871:
758:
90:
Suspected to be disposable barbequeues but the truth is it was caused by embers coming from a large fire on adjacent land during a heat wave.
1133:
117:
1604:
1599:
866:
861:
1845:
1326:
474:
149:
886:
1835:
1123:
353:
144:
By 15:40, the number of fire engines had increased to fourteen, with more than 100 firefighters in attendance, including some from
891:
677:
562:"Forestry England starts clean-up operation following a fire which engulfed 190 hectares of heathland at Wareham Forest, Dorset"
1287:
1239:
962:
833:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1118:
1106:
916:
896:
1272:
1267:
1181:
957:
952:
876:
798:
337:
1728:
1771:
947:
446:
1143:
1091:
420:
360:
pointed out that the loss of habitats during breeding season would mean the habitat would take decades to recover.
702:
1708:
727:
1713:
810:
1761:
1756:
1738:
1262:
911:
805:
793:
296:
1698:
1688:
1683:
1673:
1173:
921:
1733:
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1703:
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1148:
1051:
1028:
161:
1206:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1138:
1096:
851:
116:
of the heathland, and was described "one of the most devastating fires in Dorset, in living memory" by
1341:
1855:
1850:
1516:
1498:
1408:
1380:
1008:
937:
388:"Wareham Forest blaze: 'One of most devastating forest and heath fires in Dorset in living memory'"
1356:
1277:
1211:
1196:
1101:
1418:
1257:
1234:
1111:
942:
1043:
728:"One of most devastating fires in Dorset in living memory cost half a million pounds to fight"
1399:
1321:
357:
1799:
1375:
1365:
1201:
1186:
1033:
1018:
213:
185:
8:
1776:
1394:
1389:
1370:
1331:
1316:
1311:
1282:
1086:
1066:
1013:
998:
856:
256:
129:
1668:
1336:
1297:
1023:
750:
352:. Ecologists were called in to try and rescue any animals which may have survived. The
349:
217:
201:
193:
646:
586:
532:
503:
1462:
1346:
1191:
1081:
1076:
967:
621:
1783:
1507:
1427:
1061:
1056:
309:
259:
pumps from Poole, Hamworthy, Wimborne, Swanage, Ferndown, Blandford, Christchurch,
189:
181:
828:
341:
295:, was closed by police. The fire needed special precautions to fight, as a major
197:
177:
138:
30:
1579:
1437:
1413:
1003:
782:
109:
53:
475:"VIDEO: Forest fire declared major incident as 150 firefighters battle flames"
1829:
1480:
1471:
1442:
1351:
1216:
625:
313:
157:
1561:
1534:
1457:
1447:
1432:
1226:
1071:
976:
365:
333:
233:
168:
Dorset & Somerset and
Hampshire. Specifically, there were 28 in total:
1804:
1570:
1552:
1525:
990:
325:
317:
288:
221:
1543:
260:
241:
237:
173:
356:
said that this would be the worst fire in Dorset in 30 years, and the
1489:
1303:
843:
820:
447:"Somerset firefighters among 100 tackling enormous spreading inferno"
321:
274:
270:
264:
1748:
1652:
345:
292:
278:
225:
209:
134:
1816:
1657:
1249:
291:, Ferndown and Wimborne. The main trunk road through Dorset, the
229:
205:
113:
647:"Wareham Forest wildfire: Ecologists assess damage to wildlife"
247:
145:
57:
421:"As it happened: initial updates from the Wareham Forest fire"
329:
156:. At 16:40, more police assets were attending, including the
153:
253:
water carriers from Poole, Christchurch, Bridport and Yeovil
371:
The total cost to the fire service was at least £500,000.
780:
35:
Burned trees at
Wareham Forest, near Sugar Hill, Dorset.
614:"Fears for wildlife after fire ravages Wareham Forest"
587:"Wareham Forest wildfire: Crews take control of blaze"
533:"Wareham Forest wildfire: Crews take control of blaze"
504:"Wareham Forest: Large fire breaks out at beauty spot"
1827:
299:power line ran through the middle of the fire.
766:
141:, and had been made impassable due to smoke.
112:, Dorset, in May 2020. It destroyed over 220
118:Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
773:
759:
152:. Smoke could be seen from as far away as
150:Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
29:
354:Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust
703:"Wareham Forest fire updates 18-22 May"
444:
1828:
678:"Wareham Forest fire – some key stats"
754:
672:
670:
668:
611:
1841:2020 disasters in the United Kingdom
556:
554:
527:
525:
498:
496:
469:
467:
415:
413:
411:
409:
283:a high volume pump from Christchurch
338:Site of Special Scientific Interest
336:– live. A third of the forest is a
13:
665:
302:
158:Dorset Police Marine Policing Team
128:The fire started as a result of a
14:
1867:
1846:2020s fires in the United Kingdom
551:
522:
493:
464:
406:
344:and ground nesting birds such as
1836:Wildfires in the United Kingdom
720:
695:
639:
45:18 May 2020 – 4 June 2020
811:United Kingdom weather records
605:
579:
445:Kendall, Ellie (18 May 2020).
438:
380:
1:
806:Drought in the United Kingdom
794:Climate of the United Kingdom
374:
1217:North Sea and Irish Sea 2013
7:
612:Hardy, Jack (19 May 2020).
350:Scheduled Ancient Monuments
348:. The site also contains 9
162:National Police Air Service
148:, part of the neighbouring
10:
1872:
1235:Widecombe-in-the-Moor 1638
1062:Holmfirth 1738, 1777, 1944
1813:
1792:
1747:
1648:
1592:
1296:
1248:
1225:
1172:
1042:
989:
930:
842:
834:Buachaille Etive Mòr 2009
819:
789:
94:
86:
81:
73:
68:
63:
49:
40:
28:
23:
106:2020 Wareham Forest fire
24:2020 Wareham Forest fire
1129:Somerset Levels 2013–14
1067:North East England 1771
133:which runs between the
123:
1107:November–December 2009
781:Weather events in the
246:a specialist £230,000
188:(two), Poole (three),
16:Forest fire in England
358:Dorset Wildlife Trust
1149:Yorkshire Dales 2019
1052:Bristol Channel 1607
1029:Yorkshire Dales 2019
922:February–March 2018
340:, and is known for
269:support units from
130:disposable barbecue
1263:Great Malvern 1761
1182:South England 1287
1087:South England 1968
218:Sturminster Newton
172:Fire engines from
108:was a wildfire in
1823:
1822:
1772:April–August 2022
1762:February–May 2019
1593:Windstorm seasons
707:www.dwfire.org.uk
682:www.dwfire.org.uk
102:
101:
1863:
1856:Fires in England
1805:Great Stink 1858
1544:September 2020 (
1419:September 2011 (
1357:September 1961 (
775:
768:
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566:Forestry England
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425:Bournemouth Echo
417:
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342:ladybird spiders
310:Forestry England
33:
21:
20:
1871:
1870:
1866:
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1864:
1862:
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1851:Wareham, Dorset
1826:
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1824:
1819:
1809:
1800:Great Smog 1952
1788:
1777:Wennington 2022
1743:
1662:
1644:
1588:
1580:November 2023 (
1562:February 2022 (
1553:December 2021 (
1535:February 2020 (
1526:February 2020 (
1490:December 2015 (
1481:December 2015 (
1472:November 2015 (
1301:
1292:
1278:Birmingham 2005
1244:
1221:
1168:
1112:Workington 2009
1072:Strathspey 1829
1038:
1009:Chew Stoke 1968
985:
926:
838:
815:
785:
779:
747:
737:
735:
734:. 8 August 2020
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303:Lasting effects
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1577:
1571:October 2023 (
1568:
1559:
1550:
1541:
1532:
1523:
1517:October 2019 (
1514:
1508:January 2018 (
1505:
1499:October 2017 (
1496:
1487:
1478:
1469:
1463:October 2014 (
1460:
1455:
1450:
1448:Christmas 2013
1445:
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1406:
1400:October 1996 (
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1214:
1212:North Sea 2007
1209:
1207:North Sea 1978
1204:
1202:North Sea 1976
1199:
1197:North Sea 1953
1194:
1189:
1187:North Sea 1287
1184:
1178:
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1170:
1169:
1167:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1144:Winter 2019–20
1141:
1136:
1134:Winter 2015–16
1131:
1126:
1124:Winter 2013–14
1121:
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1019:Boscastle 2004
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799:climate change
790:
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110:Wareham Forest
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1466:
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1459:
1458:February 2014
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1454:
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1449:
1446:
1444:
1443:December 2013
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1428:December 2011
1426:
1424:
1422:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1409:December 1998
1407:
1405:
1403:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1384:
1381:August 1986 (
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1366:February 1962
1364:
1362:
1360:
1355:
1353:
1352:February 1903
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1342:December 1879
1340:
1338:
1337:February 1871
1335:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1325:
1323:
1320:
1318:
1317:November 1824
1315:
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1312:December 1703
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1305:
1299:
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1286:
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1273:November 1981
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1227:Thunderstorms
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1004:Lynmouth 1952
1002:
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994:
992:
988:
982:
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973:
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958:February 2009
956:
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912:February 2012
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673:
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653:. 20 May 2020
652:
648:
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623:
619:
618:The Telegraph
615:
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593:. 19 May 2020
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539:. 19 May 2020
538:
534:
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510:. 18 May 2020
509:
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481:. 18 May 2020
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394:. 24 May 2020
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1453:January 2014
1438:October 2013
1433:January 2012
1420:
1414:January 2007
1401:
1395:January 1990
1390:October 1987
1382:
1376:January 1976
1371:January 1968
1358:
1347:October 1881
1332:October 1859
1322:January 1839
1288:October 2022
1268:October 1913
1174:Storm surges
1024:Morpeth 2008
1014:Glasgow 2002
991:Flash floods
978:
977:March 2023 (
969:
968:March 2018 (
953:January 1995
938:January 1881
897:October 2008
748:
736:. Retrieved
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451:SomersetLive
450:
440:
428:. Retrieved
424:
396:. Retrieved
391:
382:
370:
366:River Piddle
362:
334:smooth snake
306:
286:
250:from Wareham
234:Springbourne
214:Redhill Park
186:Christchurch
166:
164:helicopter.
143:
127:
105:
103:
18:
1757:Summer 2018
1327:August 1848
1283:London 2006
1258:London 1091
1192:Thames 1928
1154:Summer 2022
1102:August 2008
1097:Summer 2007
1092:Autumn 2000
1082:Thames 1947
1077:Thames 1928
1034:London 2021
931:Snow events
917:Spring 2013
732:Dorset Echo
479:Dorset Echo
392:Dorset Echo
326:grass snake
318:sand lizard
289:Bournemouth
222:Shaftesbury
1830:Categories
1304:hurricanes
1298:Windstorms
1057:Trent 1683
999:Louth 1920
963:March 2013
948:April 1981
943:March 1891
844:Cold snaps
829:Lewes 1836
821:Avalanches
375:References
261:Beaminster
257:Land Rover
242:New Milton
238:Warminster
202:Dorchester
194:Westbourne
174:Bere Regis
98:Accidental
64:Statistics
1815:Disputed
1749:Wildfires
1653:Heatwaves
1250:Tornadoes
1240:July 1968
1139:June 2016
738:28 August
712:28 August
687:28 August
657:28 August
631:28 August
626:0307-1235
597:28 August
571:28 August
543:28 August
514:28 August
485:28 August
456:28 August
430:28 August
398:28 August
322:slow worm
275:Sherborne
271:Hamworthy
265:Charmouth
198:Blandford
1658:Droughts
651:BBC News
591:BBC News
537:BBC News
508:BBC News
346:woodlark
279:Ferndown
226:Bridport
210:Ferndown
190:Weymouth
182:Wimborne
160:and the
114:Hectares
82:Ignition
77:£570,000
50:Location
1817:tsunami
1640:2023–24
1635:2022–23
1630:2021–22
1625:2020–21
1620:2019–20
1615:2018–19
1610:2017–18
1605:2016–17
1600:2015–16
1519:Lorenzo
1510:Eleanor
1501:Ophelia
1483:Desmond
1474:Abigail
1465:Gonzalo
1383:Charley
1302:former
1119:2012–13
907:2010–11
902:2009–10
892:1990–91
882:1985–86
877:1981–82
872:1962–63
867:1946–47
862:1894–95
852:1683–84
230:Verwood
228:(two),
220:(two),
208:(two),
206:Swanage
204:(two),
200:(two),
180:(two),
178:Wareham
139:Wareham
69:Impacts
41:Date(s)
1582:Ciarán
1564:Eunice
1537:Dennis
1359:Debbie
1044:Floods
979:Larisa
624:
248:Unimog
146:Yeovil
95:Motive
74:Damage
58:Dorset
1793:Other
1573:Babet
1555:Barra
1528:Ciara
1421:Katia
330:adder
154:Poole
87:Cause
1739:2022
1734:2021
1729:2019
1724:2018
1719:2013
1714:2006
1709:2003
1704:1995
1699:1990
1694:1976
1689:1955
1684:1911
1679:1906
1674:1808
1669:1757
1546:Alex
1402:Lili
1164:2024
1159:2023
970:Emma
887:1987
857:1709
740:2021
714:2021
689:2021
659:2021
633:2021
622:ISSN
599:2021
573:2021
545:2021
516:2021
487:2021
458:2021
432:2021
400:2021
332:and
277:and
263:and
240:and
137:and
124:Fire
104:The
1492:Eva
1300:and
293:A35
135:A35
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