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Police have ordered people to avoid a popular Dorset beach after a roaring blaze broke out this afternoon as the UK’s drought sparks further chaos.
The large heath fire is tearing through a nature reserve next to a popular nudist spot on Knoll Beach, as it moves across Dorset’s Studland peninsula and a major incident has reportedly been declared.
The ferry at upmarket Sandbanks – home to several millionaires – has been suspended until further notice.
Cars were forced to evacuate the chain ferry – which usually carries tourists – to allow fire engines to tackle the flames.
The company said on social media: ‘Ferry Road is closed due to a large fire in Studland. Emergency services are only letting people off the Studland Peninsula – the road is completely closed on the Studland side.’
The fire, which started just after 1pm, could be seen on the other side of Poole Harbour with witnesses suggesting the smoke was getting darker at around 3.40pm.
It is believed at least 70 firefighters are battling the flames as people have been warned to stay off the heath. The crews are from Springbourne, Blandford, Poole, Westbourne, Christchurch, Wareham, Swanage, Bridport, Redhill Park, Verwood, Bere Regis, Shaftesbury, Wimborne and New Milton.
A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue’s spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘As of 4.10pm there were approximately 70 firefighters who were attending the scene.’
Studland and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve borders Studland Bay on the south side of Poole Harbour, and is found between Swanage and Sandbanks.
The fire service also revealed that there were 12 fire engines involved. A spokesperson added: ‘We were called to Studland Heath at 1.12pm for a large fire involving undergrowth and gorse.
‘We have crews from Springbourne, Poole, Westbourne and Swanage in attendance, with other resources on the way.
‘We are asking people to leave the heath for their own safety, and to avoid Ferry Road.’
Video footage shows the roaring blaze and plumes of smoke above the precious nature reserve located near a nudist beach
At least four fire engine crews were called to the scene at 1.12pm with a major incident reportedly declared
The blaze started close to Knoll Beach and is spreading through the tinder dry heath on Dorset’s Studland peninsula
Police have warned people to avoid the beach and Ferry Road ‘for their own safety’ while the blaze is tackled by fire crews
While the Sandbanks Ferry has been suspended to the public, it is being used to transport fire engines across to Studland
The wild smoke can be seen from the millionaire’s resort of Sandbanks, previously home to Harry Redknapp and his family
As the blaze rips through the Dorset nature reserve, the chain ferry at the millionaire’s resort of Sandbanks has been suspended
One witness, Becky Wood, said: ‘Within minutes we saw fire engines come up as well as an ambulance. The ferry was pretty much full and they had to get all the cars to reverse off the ferry in order to get the fire trucks and ambulance in to take them over.’
Witnesses were shocked at hour quickly the blaze had ripped through the Dorset nature reserve which is next to a nudist beach.
Ms Wood added: ‘They’ve closed off the Poole side and there is no traffic allowed over to Swanage, they’re just diverting traffic and clearing the area.
‘It seems to be getting worse. At first we could just see the smoke as it was behind Shell Bay, but within 15 minutes it had spread down and we could see the flames. We were all shocked at how quickly the fire spread.
‘It’s best everyone avoids the area because I think they’ll be working for a while.’
The heavy smoke could be seen rising above the treeline as England officially went into a drought today following the driest summer in 50 years
Witnesses were shocked at how quickly the fire had spread within just 15 minutes as they warned people to stay away
Holidaymakers have been warned to stay clear of the area as the fire service attempts to tackle the flames and smoke
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the scene on Studland Heath from across the bay after the fire broke out this afternoon
Sandbanks Ferry announced the suspension of their service via social media because of the roaring blaze
People flocked to social media to share images of the fire, with one user (above) labelling the blaze as a ‘complete tragedy’.
The Sandbanks Ferry has been used to take stranded motorists away from the area to the millionaire’s resort. A partner of one of the staff at Sandbanks Ferry said crews are ‘shuttling the ferry non-stop to get people to safety’, Dorset Live reported.
Local buses have also had to suspend services as the fire rips through the nature reserve.
Morebus said on Twitter: ‘UPDATE – Breezer 50 – Due to a fire at Studland and the ferry being suspended the Breezer 50 will divert via road both way. We will NOT be serving any stops between ULWELL and the Ferry Terminal at this time’.
Just yesterday a red alert for wildfires was issued across Dorset due to the dry weather and heatwave conditions.
Swathes of England are officially in drought today amid scorching temperatures and hardly any rain since June.