Hundreds of drivers ignore firefighters’ no-parking signs and block attempts to contain massive bushfires in Dorset
- Yesterday a huge bushfire tore through Dorset, ‘probably’ started by a barbecue
- During the fire, firefighters discovered an unexploded WWII explosive device
- While trying to fight the fire today, the drivers moved their hose to park
- Dorset police warned the public to stay away and demanded the drivers move
Hundreds of misguided drivers have frustrated efforts to deal with a massive bushfire in Dorset after ignoring signs for no parking nearby and moving the fire hose so they could park their car.
A massive fire tore through a nature reserve at a Dorset nudist beach – ‘probably’ sparked by a disposable barbecue.
About 90 firefighters had to get the blaze under control and dozens were evacuated from the area.
As the devastating fire raged near Bournemouth, firefighters discovered an unexploded World War II bomb, making the situation even more dangerous.
The fire brigade fought the flames all night and was still working on extinguishing the fire today.
However, this did not stop about 300 drivers from driving near the danger zone and parking their cars on a hose used to fight the fire.
Dorset police sent a warning on Twitter, demanding that the drivers return to their cars and move around so that firefighters could get the fire under control.
The fire started around 1pm yesterday and quickly spread close to a popular beach – the area was evacuated
The fire seen from Sandbanks yesterday. People could see the smoke up to 15 miles away
The fire started near Knoll Beach and spread across tinder-dry moors on the Studland Peninsula in Dorset yesterday.
Police said: ‘We have been called to report that more than 300 cars have ignored the council’s no-parking signs in Ferry Road, Studland.
‘The restrictions apply because the water hose runs along the road to enable the fire service to fight the large heath fire there.
“We’ve even received reports that motorists have moved the hose to allow for parking. Please return and move your vehicles.
‘Don’t park here: the fire brigade is working hard to fight this fire. They need the public to help them, not hinder them.’
Firefighters said they discovered a used disposable barbecue in a small camp, which they believe could have been the cause of the fire.
A spokeswoman said: ‘We found evidence of a small camp where someone had used a disposable barbecue, we can’t say 100% that was the cause, but if we find evidence we have to assume it’s the most likely cause – burning don’t just start for yourself.’
The big fire swept through Studland near the millionaire resort of Sandbanks and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve, which is next to a popular nudist spot between Bournemouth and Swanage
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last month he was using barbecues in rural areas as Britain faces drought and the hottest weather on record was ‘insane’.
A spokesman for the fire service said Dorset had seen 492 percent more open fires in the first 10 days of August than in the same period last year.
The bushfire started around 1pm yesterday near Little Sea on the Studland Peninsula in Dorset and quickly spread to a busy nearby beach.
Ferry services in the area were suspended yesterday, but resumed this morning when firefighters scaled back.
The area is surrounded by holiday resorts, including a nudist beach and a ‘millionaire’s playground’ at Sandbanks.
Drought has been declared across much of England and Wales, while the Met Office has issued an Amber warning for both countries. It is expected that it will be 34 degrees today and tomorrow.
Also in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, temperatures are expected to rise around the mid-twenties and around 30C in the north of England.
The unusually dry and warm weather has made rural fires much more likely than usual and the UK has seen a large number of bushfires raging in the past month.