Crews work overnight to tackle nature reserve fire
11 minutes ago
Indy Almroth-Wright
South of England
Firefighters have been tackling a fire on heathland at a nature reserve overnight.
The blaze on Canford Heath near Poolebroke out on Wednesday at about 20:00 GMTwith crews from across Dorset and Hampshire sent in 14 firefighting appliances.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said flames had spread rapidly due to high winds with relief crews brought in during the early hours to dampen down.
Residents are being urged to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed due to the large amount of smoke.
The 344-hectare Canford Heath is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
It is home to dragonflies, damselflies, Dartford warblers, nightjars and all six species of British reptile.
'Significant' smoke warning from heath fire
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