DOZENS of Firefighters fought back flames as Saturday’s (Oct4) high winds threatened to sweep a fire on a Ferndown heath out of control.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was inundated with calls from around 2.20pm reporting an area of Stapehill Common alight, off Wimborne Road East.

Brisk winds caused the fire, which investigators believe was started deliberately, to spread rapidly as gorse and trees were overwhelmed by the inferno Fire crews used hoses and beating to try and control the blaze, which enveloped an area measuring 80m by 70m at its peak.

The flames were brought under control by 4.10pm.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Wareham and Swanage firefighters quelled a blaze in a small area of woodland at Heath Green Road, Studland.

The fire –not thought to have been started deliberately – started at around 1.40pm and was under control just before 3.30pm.

Then on Saturday evening another heath fire caught at Blackwater Grove at Alderholt.

Again, several engines and other fire vehicles were needed to tackle the flames, which started just before 4.50pm.

Around two hectares of heath were alight at the peak of the blaze, which though under control within three hours, required supervision throughout the night.