FIREFIGHTERS are urging walkers to be alert and to report any suspicious behaviour on Dorset’s heathland this Easter.

Dorset Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) and the Urban Heaths Partnership want people to act as their eyes and ears in a bid to combat the scourge of deliberately set fires, which traditionally increase at this time of year.

DFRS community safety education officer Gaynor Mant said: “As the schools’ Easter holidays approach and the arrival of British Summer Time brings longer daylight hours, understandably more people want to get out and use Dorset’s natural environments.

“There is a trend that the number of deliberately set fires on the heathland increases.”

Members of the Urban Heaths Partnership include Dorset Police, DFRS, the RSPB, Dorset Wildlife Trust, local councils, Natural England and the National Trust.

The partnership says it will be stepping up patrols across the area’s heathland as this ‘high risk time of year’ approaches.

Anyone caught starting a fire on a heath, they say, will be prosecuted whether it is a case of arson or neglect.

A number of serious heath fires have laid waste to huge swathes of Dorset’s protected heathland over the past few years.

One of the worst arson attacks happened on Canford Heath in July 2013, destroying an area of habitat roughly the same size as ten football pitches.

At the height of the blaze the flames were being tackled by up to 80 firefighters from across the county, using 16 fire appliances.

In the aftermath wildlife experts warned it could take up to 20 years for the heath to return to its pre-fire state.

Gaynor said: “I cannot stress enough how important it is to take extra care when enjoying our heaths and open areas.

“If you are a smoker, extinguish them fully before disposing of them – never just throw them away lit, similar to throwing them out of car windows – the result could be 50 or 100 firefighters tackling the subsequent blaze.”

If you are on a heath when a fire occurs leave by the nearest exit and dial 999 with as much information as possible, says DFRS. The fire service also stresses it is unsafe to light barbeques or camp fires on any heathland site.

Wardens at the scene of a fire will be wearing official orange tabards with Heathland Warden written on them, provided by DFRS. If you are given directions by a firefighter or one of these wardens, says Gaynor, please follow their instructions.

Contact urbanheaths@dorsetcc.gov.uk for details.