FIREFIGHTERS dealt with a heath blaze that was believed to have been started deliberately at Bourne Bottom last night.

Crews from Redhill Park were called to the grassland, off Bloxworth Road in Poole, at 11.25pm and found two areas alight, before requesting another fire appliance from Springbourne.

Land Rovers also joined the fire engines and further help was sent from Poole fire station.

The fire was out by midnight and the affected sections measured 20m x 20m and 50m by 50m.

Crews remained on the heath until 12.30am to damp down.

Angie White, who lives in nearby St Brelades Avenue, said: “We had a big fire last year and we did notice it was quite close to when the kids have time off school. We were quite fortunate though, because after last year’s fire early on in the season, we had a prolonged dry spell without any more.

“The area is beautiful and we are very lucky to have it.”

Borough of Poole nature conservation officer Jez Martin praised the work of the firefighters who attended.

Arsonists are believed to have caused a large heath fire at Bourne Bottom last summer, close to where this latest attack took place.