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"We used every single fire station in Dorset and Wiltshire"

Wareham Forest Fire: One year on from a blaze which devastated habitat and wildlife.

This week one year ago, the biggest forest and heath fire in living memory in Dorset started in Wareham Forest.
The blaze devastated trees and wildlife. In total, 220 hectares of habitat was destroyed - put another way, 220 football pitches.
Every fire station in Dorset in Wiltshire was involved in bringing the fire under control, with support sent from many other counties and south Wales.
People reported seeing the smoke from Bournemouth, Lyndhurst and the Isle of Wight, and air quality was affected as far away as Southampton.
A major incident remained in place for eleven days, and at its peak, more than 150 firefighters were in attendance - while a helicopter water-bombed the flames from above.
An investigation found that the most likely cause of the fire was disposable barbecues and camp fires.
This week Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and its partners have launched an awareness campaign called 'Bring a Picnic not a BBQ'. And Dorset Council has banned disposable barbecues in areas of high fire risk, a move welcomed by the fire service and Forestry England. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Solent reporter Laurence Herdman has been back to Wareham Forest to recall the devastating events of twelve months ago.

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10 minutes