FIREFIGHTERS fought for hours to bring a fire on Holt Heath under control.

The blaze was reported at around 11.10am on Saturday morning (August 9), with 14 crews eventually on the scene, near Wimborne, at its peak.

“Firefighters are working hard to try and stop the spread of the fire which is being accelerated by the wind,” a Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said soon after the fire broke out.

“We have found people near the fire trying to film and watch the crews which is extremely dangerous so we are asking the public to stay away from the area.

“This fire is moving quickly and they could easily get caught out if they are too close and the fire spreads towards them.”

By 5.30pm, a major incident was declared, “due to the size of this incident and its impact on the wider service”.

And at 9pm, the spokesperson said the blaze had been contained, with a property protected from the raging flames.

“Firefighters have worked extremely hard to bring this fire under control and have saved one property from being affected by the fire spread,” a spokesperson added.

“The fire is being extinguished using multiple pumping appliances and small 4×4 off road vehicles.”

Crews on the scene were reduced overnight to six pumping appliances and two small 4×4 vehicles, they said.