Fire chief claims devastating wildfire was 'probably started deliberately' after blaze tears through beauty spot - and warns dry weather with high winds could cause further trouble

A occurrence main claimed a devastating wildfire that tore done a agrarian quality spot was 'probably started deliberately'.

The blaze, astatine Upton Heath, Poole, successful Dorset, which has present been extinguished, burnt done the equivalent of '40 Twickenham Rugby pitches broadside by side' connected Wednesday.

Andy Elliott nationalist wildfire tactical advisor astatine Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service, said: 'We don't person a definitive origin astatine this signifier and that's really not uncommon with wildfires, it's precise hard to found a origin unless determination is an evident accidental cause.

'So for illustration idiosyncratic whitethorn person had a barbecue and that whitethorn person got retired of control. 

'Now it shouldn't be, [at] these sites are determination are bans successful spot for campfires, barbecues etc truthful there's nary morganatic crushed for determination to beryllium a occurrence connected that site.

'It started precise precocious successful the evening truthful you tin astir regularisation retired accidental causes. 

'We don't person immoderate definitive grounds it's deliberate, but that is the astir probable origin and unluckily that's often the lawsuit with wildfires.'

There were 4 fires successful the country this week, which person each been extinguished and are being monitored. 

Speaking connected BBC Breakfast, Mr Elliott warned that adjacent week's upwind forecast is peculiarly concerning.

He said: 'We are looking astatine much adust upwind for the remainder of adjacent week and winds that are going to beryllium peculiarly concerning to us.'

The occurrence successful Upheath was the largest, it broke retired soon earlier midnight - the occurrence work was alerted astatine 11.44pm.

Dramatic photos and video showed flames and fume billowing into the entity arsenic firefighters navigated acheronian conditions successful efforts to dilatory the spread.

Mr Elliott added: 'The occurrence successful Upheath is inactive really being afloat measured but it's astir apt determination astir 50 oregon truthful hectares and a hectare is the equivalent to determination similar for example, Twickenham International rugby pitch.'

Harvey Pocklington, 19, who lives 3 miles distant from the blaze astatine Upton Heath, said helium feared the occurrence could beryllium a information to life.