FIREFIGHTERS tackled a major heath fire at Bovington throughout the night.

Crews from Wareham and Bere Regis were called to an area of heath at Bovington Training Area on Saturday evening.

Upon arrival they requested further assistance from six additional pumping appliances, a water carrier and four Land Rovers.

Crews from Dorchester, Ferndown, Maiden Newton, Christchurch, Cranborne, Sturminster Newton, Swanage, Shaftesbury, and Redhill were mobilised, and the Red Cross vehicle was also mobilised for welfare purposes.

 

The incident involved approximately eight hectares of heather, gorse and trees alight and the crews got to work using four main lines, six hose reel jets, beaters, and compressed air foam system.

At 7.25pm a further request for appliances was made and the pumping appliances were increased to 10.

At the height of the blaze there were 60 firefighters on scene.

The stop message was received just before 10pm.

The incident was scaled down last night, but there was likely to be a presence on the heath overnight, a spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said.