FIREFIGHTERS have spent the past four days battling a fierce fire at a forest near Wareham.

Flames were first spotted at Rempstone Forest last Sunday (August 3) after a fire broke out at Newton Heath, which the fire service believe to be deliberate.

Efforts to contain and extinguish the fire have proved difficult, as the dry ground and vegetation, coupled with strong winds, sparked a large flare-up.

Tireless firefighters from Swanage have been battling the blaze “non-stop” since Sunday, and an inspection of the site is taking place this morning (August 7).

But the service said “lots of work” is needed to eliminate the large number of hotspots.

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Picture: Swanage Fire Station

A Swanage Fire Service spokesperson said: “Crews have just returned from a fourth day of firefighting from Rempstone Forest.

“Unfortunately the ground is still very hot with lots of hotspots and will still need lots of work to eliminate these completely.

“Yesterday afternoon, due to high winds and very dry vegetation, a big flare-up sparked another large re-ignition.

Picture: Swanage Fire Station

“Since Sunday, Swanage have been in attendance nearly non-stop with either their Land Rover or off-road appliance, and sometimes both.

“Crews from across the service will be on scene overnight with a further reassessment in the morning.”

The fire is the fourth reported heathland blaze across the area since Sunday (August 3).

Crews were initially called to a fire at Decoy Heath on Saturday (August 2), before responding to a fire in the open at Middlebere Heath, Gore Heath, Arne and Newton Heath.

Firefighters from more than 36 stations have been deployed to tackle the Newton Heath blaze, which has seen heathland around the size of 30 football pitches destroyed.

Picture: Swanage Fire Station

The fire service’s off-road appliance and Land Rover were called back to Rempstone on Monday (August 4) and have been at the scene since.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to stay away from the affected areas.

It said it was working with Dorset Police to establish the cause of the fires, “all likely to have been deliberate ignition”.

Campfires and barbeques have been banned at protected heathlands in the county, and the cause of the fires has not yet been identified.

Anyone who sees a fire in an area not previously mentioned should call 999.