Fires across heathland near Wareham are being treated as suspicious as police investigate incidents reported on Saturday evening.
Emergency services were called at 7.26pm on 28 March 2026 after multiple fires were reported in the Sandford area, with at least three separate blazes identified near the B3075 Morden Road and Holton Heath Trading Park. Officers supported firefighters with road closures while crews worked to extinguish the flames, remaining at the scene until around 11.20pm.
Police say enquiries are ongoing and are appealing for anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to come forward. Superintendent Andy Bell said officers are “currently treating the incident as suspicious” and warned of the wider impact, adding that fires of this nature cause damage to the environment and pose risks to people and nearby property.
He also confirmed that work will continue with partners including the fire service and Dorset Heaths Partnership to increase patrols in vulnerable areas during the warmer months, alongside advice urging the public to avoid open fires and barbecues in the countryside.
Group Manager Wayne Jones from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service described the incidents as “incredibly frustrating”, noting the strain on resources and the harm caused to wildlife and local communities, and urged people to report any fires immediately.